Iran summons German envoy after Merz' pro-Israel comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

During a midnight meeting with international news agencies, he suggested that Moscow could negotiate a settlement allowing Tehran to pursue a peaceful nuclear program while addressing Israeli security concerns.

Putin said he had shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The Russian leader also said he was open to speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as well as meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Read the full story on Putin's comments on the Iran-Israel conflict as well as the war in Ukraine.

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom are set to meet with their Iranian counterpart in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, news agencies reported on Wednesday evening, citing diplomatic sources.

The meeting is being coordinated by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who who recently changed plans to visit Lebanon, Syria and Israel to instead hold crisis talks in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman following Israel's strikes on Iran last Friday.

Muscat, in particular, is believed to maintain very strong contacts with Tehran and had been mediating in negotiations between the United States and Iran for nearly two months prior to Israel's attack.

The meeting was reportedly being coordinated with Washington.

Wadephul is hoping to launch an initiative involving the so-called "E3" — Germany, France and the UK — as well as with neighboring Arab states such as Oman to help bring about a diplomatic solution to the current conflict.

"It's never too late to come to the negotiating table," Wadephul said earlier in the day.

Israel has recently targeted several of Iran's nuclear sites, but its secretive Fordo fuel enrichment plant has so far remained intact.

It's buried deep underground and is considered virtually unreachable by conventional aerial weapons. 

US President Donald Trump said he has not yet made a decision on whether to order the US military to join the Israeli campaign in Iran.

Trump also added his supporters do not want to see Iran getting nuclear weapons. A change in Iran's government "could happen," he told reporters at the White House.

Questions over whether Trump will order the US military to join Israel's campaign have sparked rare criticism from parts of the president's base, including from some of his closest allies such as former strategist Steve Bannon and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Israel has said its assault on Iran aims to destroy Tehran's nuclear program. Sites in Natanz, Isfahan and elsewhere have been heavily damaged.

Now the bunker at Fordow is in its crosshairs.

Read more about the role Fordow plays in Iran's nuclear program.

Many viral videos claiming to show Israeli and Iranian bombings are fake and include AI-generated clips as well as 2003 Iraq war footage.

DW shows how spot disinformation and verify content.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned on Wednesday the German ambassador to Tehran due to remarks made a day earlier by Chancellor Friedrich Merz,saying that by striking Iran, Israel was "doing the dirty work for us all."

"Following the shameful statements made by the German chancellor in support of Tel Aviv's aggression against our country, the country's (Germany's) ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry," Iranian state TV reported.

Merz also said on Tuesday that the complete destruction of Iran's nuclear program could be on the agenda if Tehran does not return to negotiations. 

On Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for supporting Israel in its strikes on Iran, labeling the US leader a "great friend of Israel."

"I want to thank President Trump, a great friend of the state of Israel," Netanyahu said in a televised statement. "I thank him for being at our side, and I thank him for the support of the United States in defending Israel's skies."

Speaking about the ongoing conflict with Iran, Netanyahu said the Israeli army is "moving step by step toward our goals."

Answering reporters' questions about the prospect of the US joining the airstrikes in Iran, President Trump said earlier on Wednesday he "may or may not" order the US military to join.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned of "irreparable damage" should the US join the airstrikes on Tehran.

Israel says it struck Iran in self-defense, fearing a nuclear threat. But international law covering self-defense by states is very strict — fueling heated debate about the legality of Israel's initial attack.

DW looks at the legal debate sparked by Israel's attack on Iran

Iran announced on Tuesday heavier curbs on its internet, accusing Israel of misusing the network for military purposes.

Tehran's communication ministry said "temporary restrictions" had been imposed on users. The country's internet was already being limited after the Israeli attack on Friday.

Internet observatory account NetBlocks posted on its X account that live data shows a "near-total national blackout" in Iran.

Some 171 German nationals were evacuated from the Middle East in a special flight, Germany's Foreign Office said. More details were not disclosed.

A second flight will leave on Thursday, the Foreign Office said, without giving information regarding the airport from which the evacuation flight will depart.

The US embassy in Israel announced on Wednesday plans for evacuating American citizens as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee said the embassy is "working on evacuation flights and cruise ship departures" for US citizens who want to leave Israel.

Three Iranian Red Crescent rescue workers were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, the organization said in a statement.

"This incident is not only a crime against international humanitarian law but also a blatant attack on humanity and morality," Iran's rescue service said.

According to the organization, the three were out providing aid for people injured in the Shahid Bagheri district of Tehran.

Iran responded to claims made by US President Donald Trump that Iranian officials had offered to visit the White House to restart the negotiations over the country's nuclear program in light of the Israeli strikes.

"No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House," the country's UN Mission posted on its X account, adding that Iran does not "negotiate under duress."

Tehran will "respond to any action with reciprocal measures," it said.