German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reaffirmed his opposition to potential military operations against Iran following sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump. Despite pressure from Washington, the German leader maintained that Berlin prioritizes a diplomatic resolution to regional tensions to avoid further economic and security destabilization.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Merz emphasized that while personal relations with the US President remain constructive, he holds strategic reservations regarding military escalation.
He further noted that such disruptions have a direct and substantial impact on energy supplies and overall economic efficiency."Personal relations between the US President and me, at least on my part, remain good. I have simply doubted the wisdom of events starting with a war in Iran from the very beginning and have expressed my position accordingly. In Germany and Europe, we suffer significantly from the consequences of, for example, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz," Merz stated.
"In this regard, I insist on resolving this conflict. We continue to conduct a constructive dialogue with each other," he added.
The exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic friction between Berlin and Washington regarding Middle East policy. Earlier, US President Donald Trump criticized Merz's stance on Iran and attributed Germany's current economic challenges to the Chancellor's leadership. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical maritime chokepoint, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passes. Any conflict in the region poses a severe threat to global energy markets, particularly for European nations heavily reliant on stable imports. On the morning of April 29, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul briefed the Chancellor on high-level discussions held in New York with American government officials aimed at bridging these policy gaps.
