The announcement of a framework agreement between the US and Iran brought a sense of relief to political Berlin. However, the initial reactions are also sceptical. It's as if everyone wants to wait and see what's on paper and what will actually happen on the ground.
Because hasn't the unpredictable Donald Trump been constantly announcing peace agreements and issuing ultimatums since the end of February, after a week of war?
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Reuters reports, wants to wait until the agreement is actually signed on Friday in Geneva, as announced.
Merz, like other leaders of major industrial nations, is in Evian, France, for the G7 meeting. It is there that he will have the opportunity to speak with Trump.
As Reuters reports, Merz still wants to make a quick decision on the possible participation of the German Navy in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
If the peace plan comes into effect, parliament could vote on sending the German army to that mission as early as next week.
Restraint and caution
On the X platform, Merck was cautious. He congratulated Washington and Tehran and said that this could be the path to "recovery of the world economy and stabilization of the region," and that what was agreed should be implemented.
With colleagues from France, Great Britain and Italy, Merck also formulated expectations from the final agreement - Iran must not develop nuclear weapons and Hormuz must be opened to international shipping.
Other reactions from Germany sound similarly cautious. "Even if the Strait of Hormuz is navigable soon, it will take months for oil supplies to normalize," said Federal Bank President Joachim Nagel.
The blockade of the Straits has led to a global increase in fuel prices. In Germany, the ruling coalition of the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats has also responded with tax breaks for drivers that last until the end of the month.
Ambiguities around the nuclear program
The Germans' restraint does not come from nowhere. Many details of the agreement with Tehran are still unclear. The limitation and control of the nuclear program have yet to be discussed. Also, would the signing on Friday bring the immediate opening of the straits?
Not everyone in the ruling coalition in Berlin is happy. Roderich Kiesewetter, an influential Christian Democrat foreign policy expert, said Trump was sacrificing long-term security interests for a momentary PR success.
"This is a disaster for the people of Iran, it feeds directly into Putin's war machine and leaves the door wide open for an Iranian nuclear bomb, because there are no solid and verifiable guarantees," Kiesewetter told the t-online portal.
He added that Israel remains threatened, and that Iranian-backed paramilitaries will continue to destabilize the region.
Social Democrat MP Simtje Möller says she is cautiously optimistic. "An important negotiating success would be the end of combat operations and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. It remains to be seen whether the weapons will really fall silent on all sides. The core point of the conflict, the Iranian nuclear program, still needs to be negotiated."
Bundeswehr sending minesweeping ships?
For weeks now, there has been a lively debate in Berlin about how Germany could get involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said that two German Navy ships were already in the eastern Mediterranean, awaiting command. "The minesweeper 'Fulda' and the tender 'Mozel' are preparing personnel and materially for any possible development," he said.
If the Bundeswehr gets involved in removing sea mines, the two ships could be on site in "seven to ten days."
As explained by the Government, the army can only be involved if there is a clear political and military concept as well as a mandate from parliament.
It is believed that the Bundestag would agree to sending military ships if the action were strictly defensive, for example to remove mines. But before that happens, a number of questions need to be answered.
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