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German minister says Trump’s Iran talks announcement could mark turning point

By Thomson Reuters Mar 24, 2026 | 5:08 AM

BERLIN, March 24 (Reuters) – Germany’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that he believed U.S. President Donald ​Trump’s announcement about talks ‌with Iran could mark a turning point in the nearly month-long conflict.

“Something is happening, and that’s a good thing in ‌this ​time when there have ⁠been more risks ⁠of escalation than possibilities of bringing this conflict under control,” Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told broadcaster MDR.

Trump ​wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday that the ⁠U.S. and Iran ⁠had held “very good and productive” ​conversations about a “complete and total resolution ​of hostilities in the Middle East”. ‌Iran has said no negotiations had taken place.

Wadephul said he believed Trump did hold serious talks with ⁠Iran because “otherwise he wouldn’t have said it that way” and he would not ⁠have postponed ‌his threatened attack on ⁠Iranian power plants.

“It’s a ​fragile ‌beginning, but it’s a start ​nonetheless,” said ⁠Wadephul.

“We should all strive to ensure that this progress flourishes and that there’s a way to control this conflict.”

(Writing by Miranda MurrayEditing by ​Ludwig Burger)