Speaking to DW in New York, where Germany is campaigning for a non‑permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says diplomacy is "needed more than ever," even as global divisions deepen and the UN struggles to assert its role.

Responding to criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent remark that Iran was "humiliating" the United States, Wadephul dismisses the backlash as a misunderstanding, saying the comment was meant as a clear warning to Tehran, which he accuses of deliberately playing for time.

Watch Wadephul's full interview with DW's Max Hofmann at the United Nations in New York City.