Germany news: Ships to head to Med for possible Hormuz role

What you need to know

• Defense Minister Pistorius plans to send ships to the Mediterranean ahead of any possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz
• Two Cabinet ministers caught out by Signal phishing scam, Spiegel has reported

Keep reading for the latest headlines from Germany for the weekend of April 25-26:

Berlin planning Mediterranean naval deployment to be ready for Hormuz

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the Rheinische Post newspaper that, "to save time," German naval ships will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea so that they can join an international mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, when the time comes.

"A deployment in the [Strait of Hormuz] is only possible when we have a mandate from the German Bundestag," he told the newspaper.

"To save time, we have decided to send some of the units to the Mediterranean ahead of schedule so as not to lose any time once we have the mandate."

He remarked that the government had followed a similar course of action ahead of the EU's Aspides mission in the Red Sea that began in February 2024 as a response to Houthi attacks on shipping.

"That substantially accelerated the beginning of the deployment," Pistorius said.

Without signalling when the deployment would take place, he said a minesweeper and support ship would be sent, with deployments in other areas being reduced, in agreement with partners.

Iran effectively blocked all traffic passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz in response to attacks by the US and Israel that began on February 28. Despite a ceasefire, Iran has kept the key waterway due to a US blockade of Iranian ports.

Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas passes through the strait and its almost two-month closure has had major impacts on economies worldwide.

Germany, like other NATO allies, drew the ire of US President Donald Trump by refusing to join the war, but pledged to help secure shipping through the strait with minesweeping and reconnaissance support.

EU leaders weigh options to deal with Iran war

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Guten Morgen and thank you for joining us today.

Germany, like everywhere now, is reeling from the impacts of the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The German government has cut its own economic growth forecasts in half, down to 0.5%, as soaring energy prices torpedo hopes of a recovery from Germany's economic malaise.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also cast doubt on Germany's environmental credentials, saying climate protections must not hold back growth.

Meanwhile, for some in Germany, the top story remains the fate of Timmy the stranded whale, with rescue efforts continuing weeks after experts said there was no hope left for the maritime mammal.