Germany will do everything to save the nuclear deal with Iran, the new German Ambassador to India, Walter J. Lindner, told The Hindu on Tuesday.
His statement reflects the official position of Germany, which is working to prevent a conflict in the Persian Gulf and a consequent oil shock for nations like India.
“Nuclear rivalry would break out in the West Asian region if the nuclear deal fell apart. No one wants such a scenario because of the implications for the world. Germany will do everything in its ability to keep Iran in the nuclear deal,” said the Ambassador, who submitted his letter of credential to President Ram Nath Kovind.
Mr. Lindner said Germany, along with other European Union members, supported India’s plans to counter a possible oil shock in case of increased volatility in the Persian Gulf.
Chancellor’s visit
Instability increased after the U.S. government ended waivers for oil purchase from Iran on May 2. The Ambassador noted that India was yet to decide on whether to continue buying Iranian crude. A decision is likely after the general election.
The Iran issue is likely to figure during the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel to India. She will be among the first visitors to the country after the end of the election.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was among the signatories to a statement issued after the end of U.S. waivers for oil trade and vowed to stand by Iran. The waivers were meant for major importers of Iranian energy, such as India, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Greece and Turkey.
However, the Ambassador did not spell out any strategy to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy for increasing pressure on Iran through renewed sanctions. Mr. Maas had expressed collective “regret” at the re-imposition of sanctions by the United States.
