Iran's foreign minister slams German chancellor, says E3 'ended its role' in nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a sharp rebuke of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, accusing him of undermining diplomacy and claiming that the E3 group—Britain, France, and Germany—had effectively ended its role in nuclear negotiations by seeking to restore UN sanctions on Iran last September. “Now, Merz is begging to be allowed back into the same negotiations,” Araghchi stated in a post on social media platform X.

Background of the Exchange

The comments came after Merz wrote on X that Germany was prepared to “further increase the pressure” on Iran and engage in talks to swiftly end its nuclear program. Araghchi responded by accusing Merz of political naivety and a “distasteful character,” citing the chancellor’s past remarks welcoming Israel’s attack on Iran in June and promoting narratives of Iran’s imminent collapse. “Germans are a great people… It is therefore doubly regrettable that an individual such as Mr. Merz now represents Germany on the world stage,” Araghchi added.

Escalating Tensions with Europe

Relations between Iran and European powers have deteriorated significantly following recent anti-government protests in Iran, which European capitals condemned as a violent crackdown. The EU’s designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization has further heightened tensions. Last week, Iran summoned the German ambassador to protest what it called Merz’s “interventionist and offensive” remarks after the chancellor suggested the Iranian government’s “days are numbered.”

Nuclear Diplomacy Under Strain

Pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program has intensified amid the domestic unrest, which Iran blames on the United States and Israel. Araghchi’s statement reflects Tehran’s growing frustration with European positions, even as diplomatic efforts to revive nuclear negotiations remain stalled.