BERLIN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday announced that the German government will resume direct talks with Iran to support the newly agreed two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
During a press conference in Berlin, Merz stated that a window of opportunity for a negotiated solution has opened for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict, though he cautioned that the situation in the Middle East remains "fragile."
Following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, direct talks are scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Merz noted that a German negotiation team is heading to Pakistan to engage with the Iran side, and he is scheduled to hold a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later on Thursday.
Merz also confirmed he had held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the U.S. leader to pursue the negotiations seriously.
He denied any discussions regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from military bases in Germany.
During the press conference, Merz also voiced concern over the situation in Lebanon, warning that Israel's ongoing military operations in Lebanon could cause the peace process as a whole to fail. "And that must not happen." ■