Germany intensified its diplomatic efforts on Sunday as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of a looming regional catastrophe in the Middle East, calling for immediate de-escalation and humanitarian access amid growing fears of a broader war.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call on Sunday morning with the Sultan of Oman, Sheikh Haitham bin Tariq, to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East. According to a spokesperson for the German government, both leaders emphasised the urgent need to prevent further expansion of the conflict and reaffirmed their joint commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.
The call comes as tensions in the region continue to rise, prompting international concern over the potential for wider conflict.
In a related development, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, currently on a diplomatic tour in the region, issued a stark warning during an interview with Tagesschau on Saturday evening. He cautioned that the Middle East faces a “serious risk of full-scale escalation” and urged all parties involved to demonstrate the highest level of political responsibility to avoid further violence.
Wadephul stressed that Germany, alongside France and the United Kingdom, is prepared to engage in dialogue with Iran regarding its nuclear programme. “The situation in the region is highly volatile,” he said. “Further escalation would have unimaginable consequences. What this region needs is peace, not the intensification of military conflict.”
He further warned that unchecked conflict could engulf the region and pose direct risks to European stability and security.
Turning to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Wadephul described conditions there as "unacceptable," highlighting the urgent need for aid. “Hunger, death, and suffering must come to an end,” he said, calling on the Israeli government to allow full and immediate access for humanitarian organisations. He underlined that this appeal reflects not only Germany’s stance but that of the broader international community.
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Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed changes to voter lists.
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, questioning why Moscow was granted an economic benefit without an apparent concession towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise after Donald Trump mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in 2025, the U.S. President said at a rally in New York state on Friday.
The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
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