Berlin, July 31: Germany has dismissed a proposal by the United States to join its military maritime coalition against Iran in the Persian Gulf to fight “Iranian aggression”, German foreign ministry has on Tuesday said.
In an official statement, the foreign ministry, cited by Sputnik news agency, said, “The US recently presented its concept of a naval observation mission in the Persian Gulf to a number of its allies, including Germany, and asked them to participate. The government took note of the proposal, but made no promises.”
The ministry further added it has remained stressed upon providing priorities to decreasing the rising tensions through the diplomatic means and efforts, according to Reuters news reports.
The ministry’s statement noted: “We are in close consultation with France and the UK. Participation in the US strategy of ‘maximum pressure’ is ruled out for us.”
A spokesperson for the American embassy in Berlin had on Tuesday stated they had officially asked the United Kingdom (UK), France, and Germany “to help with securing the Strait of Hormuz and fighting Iranian aggression”.
In addition, a similar proposal has been made last week to several nations, including Germany, South Korea, Japan, and Australia by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state.
On July 24, senior Iranian authorities cautioned against any attempts to establish an international alliance to secure shipping in the Gulf, with Tehran’s first vice president warning the move will just carry instability to the locale.
Iranian VP Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying the suggestion that international coalition powers will patrol the waters of Strait of Hormuz and also ground the vessels that transit through it is absolutely not necessary.