UPDATE - Germany's Merz says Iran must halt military nuclear program

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY CHANCELLOR MERZ

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Iran on Wednesday to halt its military nuclear program and destabilizing activities in the Middle East.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a three-nation tour of the Gulf region, Merz said developments concerning Iran would be a key topic during his visits.

“Iran must halt its military nuclear program. There must be no ballistic missiles launched from Iran against Israel or the Gulf States,” Merz said. “Iran's destabilizing activities in the region must finally come to an end,” he also stressed.

The conservative leader said Germany and its Western partners would continue increasing pressure on Tehran while remaining open to diplomatic talks.

“We are ready for talks aimed at a swift end to Iran's nuclear and arms programs. Peace and security in the region are also an important issue for us, and they will play an important role in my discussions in the region,” he said.

Merz is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday evening in Riyadh, the first stop of his trip. He will visit Qatar on Thursday and the United Arab Emirates on Friday to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.

-New partnerships

The chancellor said he will also discuss closer economic cooperation, energy partnerships, and potential arms exports during his talks in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

"Our partners may not all share the same values and interests with us," Merz said. "But they do share the understanding that we need an order in which we trust agreements and treat each other with respect."

He said Germany's new government has adopted a new foreign policy approach that will be less restrictive on arms exports.

"We are not uncritical, but we no longer place the Gulf states under general suspicion," he said. "Where we see problems, we will seek dialogue and address the issues."