German president hopeful of diplomacy in Middle East war
TOKYO- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier believes it is possible for Israel and Iran to return to the path of diplomacy inspite the heavy air attacks being trade by the arch-rivals.
“It’s now important that there is a return to negotiations,” the German head of state said during a visit to Tokyo.
Steinmeier said this prospect “presupposes that there will be no further escalation in the Middle East, that the conflict between Israel and Iran does not turn into a conflagration for the entire region.”
If a wider regional conflict could be prevented, he believed there was still a chance of finding a way back to negotiations, Steinmeier added.
The German president, whose role is largely ceremonial, arrived in Japan earlier on Wednesday for a three-day visit, holding talks with Emperor Naruhito.
Israel began launching large-scale attacks on Iran on Friday, including on defence positions, nuclear sites and oil and natural gas fields, in a bid to damage the country’s nuclear capabilities.
This is amid fears that Iran could be working on developing a nuclear weapon.
However, attacks on non-military sites have intensified speculation that Israel’s goals extend beyond stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and might be aimed at toppling the Iranian leadership.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the Israeli attacks a week ago, including top military commanders and nuclear scientists but also civilians, according to official figures.
Twenty-four people have been killed and more than 800 injured in Iranian retaliatory attacks on Israel, according to the Israeli government on Wednesday. (dpa/NAN)
