Today at 20:45
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Iran to end the cycle of escalation following Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets, stating that restraint could pave the way for peace in the Middle East.
He wrote this on X (Twitter).
Scholz emphasized that “such massive escalation cannot continue indefinitely.”
“This must stop now, and it opens the door for peaceful development in the Middle East,” the German Chancellor wrote.
He noted that Israel deliberately targeted Iran’s military sites and made efforts to minimize civilian casualties.
“It’s important that a ceasefire is reached in Gaza and hostages are released. I urge all parties to this. The same applies to Lebanon,” Scholz added.
A source in German diplomatic circles informed Reuters journalists that Israel’s measured response to Iranian missile attacks has reopened a window for diplomatic progress in the Middle East and Lebanon.
“It has always been understood that real prospects for moving forward would emerge only after Israel’s anticipated strikes on Iran,” he concluded.
Recently, the Israel Defense Forces announced strikes on Iran in response to “months of continuous attacks by the Iranian regime.” The targets of the Israeli strikes were military facilities.
According to three Israeli sources from Axios, this strike destroyed a critical component of Iran’s ballistic missile development program.
The U.S. presidential administration stated that the American side did not participate in Israel’s operation against Iran.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran not to retaliate, stating that the Middle East must “avoid further regional escalation.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed a similar call.
