Germany on Monday, February 23, 2026, issued a firm and unequivocal demand that Iran completely terminate its military nuclear program and place its ballistic missile capabilities under strict international control, reflecting heightened European alarm over Tehran's nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization efforts.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius delivered the statement during a regular press briefing in Berlin, outlining Berlin's position as indirect US-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva later this week. "Any diplomatic solution requires Iran to verifiably stop its military nuclear program," Kornelius declared. "No ballistic missiles may be launched from Iran against Israel and the Gulf states, and destabilizing activities in the region must cease." He added pointedly: "The ballistic missile program must be brought under control."
The German government's stance aligns closely with longstanding Western concerns that Iran's nuclear activities extend far beyond the civilian energy purposes Tehran claims. Despite Iran's repeated assertions that its program is peaceful and compliant with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has documented uranium enrichment to levels approaching weapons-grade (up to 60% purity in recent reports), far exceeding the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The agency has also raised unresolved questions about undeclared nuclear material and possible military dimensions to Iran's past activities.
Kornelius's remarks come at a particularly fraught moment. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has deployed two carrier strike groups to the Middle East, set a tight 10- to 15-day diplomatic window for meaningful progress, and publicly contemplated limited military strikes if negotiations fail. A new round of indirect talks mediated by Oman is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, in Geneva, Switzerland. Iran has described recent discussions as producing "encouraging signals" but insists on comprehensive sanctions relief, guarantees against future US withdrawal from any deal, and preservation of its enrichment rights.
Iran's ballistic missile program—described by its leaders as an essential pillar of national defense—remains equally non-negotiable from Tehran's perspective. Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated unequivocally that the missile arsenal "is not subject to negotiations now or in the future," framing it as a purely defensive matter vital to deterring aggression. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any attempt to limit missile capabilities would be rejected outright.
Prior to the 12-day direct conflict with Israel in late 2025—triggered by escalating proxy confrontations and Israeli strikes on Iranian-linked targets—Iran was estimated to possess between 2,500 and 3,000 ballistic missiles of various ranges, including precision-guided models capable of reaching Israel, Gulf Arab states, and US bases in the region. Analysts from think tanks such as the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) now assess that roughly half of that inventory was expended or destroyed during the brief but intense war. Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in retaliatory barrages, while Israeli and allied air defenses intercepted many others. The conflict also saw significant degradation of production facilities and storage sites through Israeli airstrikes.
Germany's call for missile control reflects broader European frustration with Iran's continued missile development and transfers to proxies such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias—activities that have fueled regional instability. Berlin has consistently supported efforts to extend the JCPOA's missile and arms embargo provisions (which expired in October 2023) and has backed UN Security Council resolutions condemning Iran's missile tests.
The German position also echoes statements from France and the United Kingdom, the other two European participants in the original JCPOA negotiations. In recent weeks, the E3 (France, Germany, UK) have jointly urged Iran to reverse provocative steps, including halting high-level enrichment and allowing full IAEA access to suspect sites. Failure to do so, European diplomats warn, risks collapsing the diplomatic track entirely and increasing the likelihood of military confrontation.
Iran, for its part, maintains that its missile program falls outside the scope of nuclear negotiations and serves legitimate self-defense needs in a hostile regional environment. Tehran points to Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal and advanced conventional capabilities as justification for retaining a robust deterrent. Iranian officials have also accused Western powers of applying double standards by demanding curbs on Iran's defensive systems while ignoring similar programs elsewhere.
The timing of Germany's statement coincides with South Korea and India's urgent advisories urging their citizens to leave Iran, citing fears of imminent US military action. The US military buildup—including the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups—has further elevated tensions, even as both sides insist diplomacy remains viable.
As negotiations approach in Geneva, Germany's explicit linkage of nuclear rollback with missile restraints and cessation of regional proxy activities adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging diplomatic landscape. Berlin's demand underscores Europe's determination to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear breakout capability while addressing the broader threat posed by its missile arsenal and destabilizing behavior.
Whether Tehran will prove willing to discuss missile limitations—despite its public red lines—or whether the talks collapse under mutual maximalist positions remains the central question. With the region on edge and military options openly discussed in Washington, the coming days could prove decisive for averting escalation or ushering in a new phase of confrontation.
