German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep concern on Tuesday regarding the lack of a clear exit strategy for the conflict in Iran, suggesting that the United States and Israel currently appear to have “no common plan” for ending the war quickly.
The military campaign against Iran has continued for over a week while international observers monitor the escalating regional instability closely.
“The United States and Israel have been waging war against Iran for over a week. We share many of the goals, but with each day of the war, more questions arise,” Merz said during a press conference in Berlin.
He emphasized that Germany remains particularly worried because the allied forces lack a roadmap to bring the current fighting to a “swift and convincing end.” Consequently, the Chancellor joined Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis to demand a more transparent diplomatic and military framework for the operation.
Regional Stability and Integrity
Merz highlighted the potential for a long-term disaster if the current coalition fails to protect the basic functions of the state. He warned that “Germany and Europe have no interest in an endless war” that could destabilize the entire Mediterranean region.
“We have no interest in the dissolution of Iran’s territorial integrity, statehood or economic viability,” the German leader told reporters.
Furthermore, he insisted that the US-Israeli military campaign must not lead to “a scenario like the one we saw in Libya, Iraq or other states in the region.” Such a collapse would directly threaten European interests regarding national security, energy supplies, and the management of future migration flows.
A Vision for Regional Peace
Ultimately, the German government advocates for a solution that preserves the Iranian state while stripping it of its most dangerous capabilities. Merz argued that the global community requires a stable, viable Iran to maintain a functional regional peace and security order.
“The world needs a stable, viable Iran as part of a regional peace and security order in which neither Israel nor other partners are threatened and in which Tehran abandons its nuclear ambitions and renounces terrorism,” Merz concluded.
