By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN (AA) - Germany announced on Monday that it will not participate in military strikes against Iran, despite its support for the US and Israel's goal of dismantling Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin is closely coordinating its position with European partners, the UK and France, though each country will decide independently what military defensive measures to take.
“The UK has concluded that it will make military bases available to the Americans. We don't have any bases there, we also don't have the corresponding military resources,” he told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. “And the German government definitely has no intention of participating in any way,” he said.
The three European powers, often referred to as E3 countries, announced in a joint statement Sunday evening that they are prepared to take "necessary and proportionate defensive measures" to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.