Iran war: Germany's chancellor strikes a cautious tone

DW News · Mar 2, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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German politicians scrambled to interpret the situation in the Middle East this weekend. Conservative voices in government urged caution in assessing the strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran. Although the German government had long anticipated that US President Donald Trump might act against Tehran's regime, German politicians were initially as stunned by the events as observers worldwide. On Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the center‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) delivered a brief statement to the press. His spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, said Merz had been informed in advance about the military actions and had also spoken by telephone on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Over the weekend, Merz met with his cabinet's security ministers before declaring: "The mullah regime is a terror regime, responsible for decades of oppression of the Iranian people." He warned that Iran threatens Israel's very existence and bears responsibility for the terror carried out by groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. "Together with the United States and Israel, we share the goal of ending the terror of these regimes," he said. Merz condemns Iran's counterstrikes across regionTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Chancellor will not 'lecture' the US and Israel But the Chancellor cautioned that the airstrikes carried significant risks: "We do not know whether they will succeed in bringing about political change from within through military action from outside." His remarks underscored uncertainty over whether the strikes were justified. Yet Merz declined to deliver a legal judgment under international law: "This is not the moment to lecture our partners and allies. Despite our reservations, we share many of their objectives." Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) also voiced doubts. In several interviews over the weekend, he commented on developments in Iran. Speaking to public broadcaster NDR, Wadephul stressed that Germany was not seeking regime change. What was clear, he said, was that Iran's regime was supplying Russia with drones for its war against Ukraine. "At this point, I am not making a final assessment under international law," Wadephul added.Echoes of US-Venezuela operation Merz's and Wadephul's remarks echoed Germany's official response earlier this year to the detention of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by US forces. Taken to New York and put on trial there, Maduro's case prompted many experts to call the commando operation a clear violation of international law. At the time, however, the German government declined to share that view. One reason for the Chancellor and Foreign Minister's caution on Iran is that Merz will begin a long‑planned visit to the United States on Monday, where he is due to meet President Trump in Washington on Tuesday. Representatives of the government's junior coalition partner, the center-left Social Democrats, struck a different tone. Foreign policy expert Adis Ahmetovic declared: "We share the goal that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon." Yet, he argued, the long‑running conflict over Iran's nuclear program did not justify "A war with unforeseeable consequences for the entire region." The German government, he said, must instead work toward de‑escalation and diplomacy. Iran launches retaliatory strikes across Gulf regionTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fears of attacks on Jewish institutions Many German politicians fear that the escalation could spread to Europe — and Germany itself. Felix Klein, the Federal Commissioner for Combating Antisemitism, warned in an interview with the Funke Media Group: "...Iran may use its networks here to carry out terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions." In 2024, security officials estimated that about 1,250 activists of Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group backed by Iran, were active in Germany. Opposition Greens question the legitimacy of attacks For the opposition Greens, parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge stated: "The United States and Israel justify their military interventions with an immediate threat they claim comes from Iran. But there is no international legal mandate for these actions. A justification under the right of self‑defense is conceivable, but subject to strict conditions. One must assume those conditions are not met." Meanwhile, Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour of the Greens avoided a legal assessment of the events. Born in Iran, he wrote on the platform X that people there longed for freedom above all. On this point, most German politicians agree. This article was originally written in German. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.