Iran's ambassador to Germany, Majid Nili, has formally demanded a "clarification" from the German government over the use of Ramstein Air Base by the United States in the ongoing war against Iran. Speaking to AFP in Berlin on Thursday, Nili said the role of the military base in Rhineland-Palatinate remained "officially unclear" to Tehran. Germany's Foreign Office did not initially respond to a request for comment.
"We have asked them for a clarification or explanation regarding the role of Ramstein," Nili said. "So far we have received no answer."
Tehran is operating on the assumption that any use of the air base by the US to carry out strikes on Iran could constitute a violation under UN Resolution 3314. Under that resolution, it is considered an act of aggression if one state uses the territory of another state to attack a third country. "We do not yet know whether that applies to Ramstein or not," the ambassador said.
Ramstein Air Base near Kaiserslautern is the largest US military installation in Germany. The legal basis for its use is the stationing agreement established under the Convention on the Presence of Foreign Forces in the Federal Republic of Germany, signed on 23 October 1954. The continued validity of the agreement was confirmed through the treaties on German reunification, and is further governed by arrangements under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said he currently sees no reason to restrict US use of Ramstein for operations against Iran. "At present, I see no grounds to doubt the legality of Ramstein's use," Pistorius had said on Monday.
According to an assessment by the Scientific Service of the German Bundestag, both the stationing agreement and the NATO Status of Forces Agreement can in principle be terminated, however, ending the military presence would require compliance with a two-year notice period.
Ambassador Nili also called on Germany and the European Union to press the United States and Israel to bring the attacks to an end. A prolonged war, he warned, would have "certain consequences" for Europe as well. He cited "economic repercussions, a refugee crisis, terrorism, and the disintegration of the region" as potential outcomes. A "lasting ceasefire" was necessary, he said, adding that "compensation" for attacks on civilian targets was also a topic under discussion.
Nili said the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz was "currently open" to states "that are not aggressors or that support the aggressors."
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