Relationship dossier
Germany
Iran
Relationship assessment
Nuclear diplomacy coexists with persistent political and human-rights tensions
Germany toward Iran
-15Germany participated in negotiations that produced the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and has pursued diplomatic efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. German governments have also supported sanctions and criticized Iranian human-rights practices, contributing to a strained relationship.
Iran toward Germany
-10Iran negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement with Germany and other parties, engaging in a substantial diplomatic process. Disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and human-rights practices, alongside German sanctions and criticism, have limited cooperation with Germany.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship has a durable diplomatic channel, with Germany involved in the 2015 nuclear agreement and subsequent efforts to address Iran’s nuclear program. That cooperation is outweighed by persistent disagreements over nuclear policy and human rights, as well as sanctions and political criticism.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Germany and Iran have engaged in sustained nuclear diplomacy, including Germany’s participation in the 2015 nuclear agreement, but relations have also been strained by Iran’s nuclear activities and German sanctions and criticism over human rights. The relationship combines continued diplomatic engagement with significant political disagreements.
Areas of tension
- Iran’s nuclear program and compliance with nuclear commitments
- German sanctions and criticism of Iranian human-rights practices
Key developments
Germany participated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the nuclear agreement reached with Iran and other parties.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of current German-Iranian diplomatic and economic cooperation is unclear.
- The practical scope of nuclear-related cooperation following changes to the nuclear agreement is uncertain.