Germany's Scholz seeks to calm Gulf tension - newspapers

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has appealed for efforts to prevent an escalation of tensions in the Gulf and said the country was working closely with France and Britain, according to an interview with the Funke group of newspapers.

"The goal of all responsible politicians must be to observe the situation very soberly and carefully, and not to sleepwalk into an even bigger crisis," Scholz told the Funke group. "Deescalation is the order of the day."

Vice-Chancellor Scholz is standing in for Chancellor Angela Merkel at Wednesday's cabinet meeting as she is on holiday. He said Germany was coordinating closely with France and Britain, and the goal remained to uphold the nuclear agreement with Iran.