Germany's Finance Minister Urges Trump to End the Iran War, Renews Call for an EU Windfall Tax on Oil Profits

German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil told public broadcaster ARD on Friday, 7 Shahrivar 1405 (August 28, 2026), that he wants US President Donald Trump to end what he called an "irresponsible" war against Iran before Trump's trip to the United States next week for the G20 finance ministers' meeting. According to ISNA, carried by Donya-e-Eqtesad, Klingbeil blamed Trump for rising fuel prices, saying "we feel it at the pumps." G20 finance ministers are set to meet Monday and Tuesday in Asheville, North Carolina, ahead of the group's leaders' summit in Miami; a US Treasury official separately confirmed Washington is working to coordinate G20 members around Iran sanctions.

Klingbeil also repeated his earlier call for a unified European Union tax on oil companies' windfall profits, warning that such firms are exploiting crises and geopolitical tensions for large gains. The proposal is due to be discussed at an EU finance ministers' meeting in Dublin on September 19 (28 Shahrivar).