(L) Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (Haim Zach/GPO) and (R) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Johanna Geron/Pool Photo via AP)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday for the first time since the latter’s inauguration last week, with the two discussing the situation with Iran’s nuclear program.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two spoke of “the importance of the effort to prevent Iran attaining weapons.”
Bennett congratulated Scholz on his election and invited him to visit Israel.
“The two emphasized the importance of the deep connection between Israel and Germany, and agreed to continue the fruitful cooperation between the countries in a wide range of areas — economic, political and security,” the statement read.
Germany is one of the original signatories to the nuclear deal with Iran and is involved in talks aimed at salvaging the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
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The talks briefly resumed in Vienna last week, but have made little progress.
Various centrifuge machines line a hall at the Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility, on April 17, 2021. (screenshot, Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting – IRIB, via AP)
Senior diplomats from Western countries at the talks have said Iran’s positions over its nuclear development program are “inconsistent” with the terms of the 2015 deal.
According to the PMO, Bennett and Scholz also discussed the coronavirus pandemic, with a particular emphasis on vaccination efforts.
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Germany has recently announced tough new restrictions that largely target unvaccinated individuals, and its parliament is set to consider a general vaccine mandate as cases rise.
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