German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Iran of humiliating the United States through failed diplomacy, questioned Washington’s strategy, and warned the conflict was damaging Germany and Europe economically.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday sharply criticised Iran’s leadership, saying it was humiliating the United States by drawing American officials into fruitless negotiations. Speaking to students in Marsberg, he said, “The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating.”
Merz also said he could not see what exit strategy Washington was pursuing in the ongoing Iran conflict, exposing wider tensions between the U.S. and its European NATO allies. He added that Germany and Europe were not consulted before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran earlier this year.
The German leader warned the crisis was hurting Europe’s economy and disrupting energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Germany had offered minesweepers to help reopen the waterway, adding the war was costing Germany “a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of economic strength.”