Merz and Saudi crown prince call for an end to maritime blockades

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Middle East conflict on October 13 and called for blockades of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to end.

Germany's government said Merz condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's airport. Both leaders agreed that the attacks must stop immediately.

According to Berlin's account, they urged Iran to engage in serious negotiations and stop destabilising the region. They also demanded permanent, unrestricted reopening of Hormuz and an end to Iran's military nuclear programme. These are the leaders' stated demands, rather than confirmation that they have been implemented.

The telephone call addressed ways to end the conflict and stabilise energy prices. The official statement specifically cited the crisis's effects on prices in Germany. It announced no concrete ceasefire agreement or timetable for lifting the blockades.