Quick Read
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined UK and French leaders in calling for a resumption of U.S.-Iran negotiations.
- The leaders condemned Iranian attacks but did not comment on the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
- Germany was notified of the U.S. and Israeli attacks only on Saturday morning.
- Chancellor Merz spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone.
- European nations face a dilemma, opposing Iran’s nuclear program but wary of unilateral military action.
BERLIN (Azat TV) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has found Germany at the center of a burgeoning diplomatic crisis, as European leaders grapple with the fallout from recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against targets in Iran. On Saturday, Merz, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, issued a joint statement condemning Iranian aggression in the region while conspicuously refraining from commenting directly on the U.S. and Israeli actions, underscoring a complex dilemma for Washington’s democratic allies.
The concerted European response came swiftly after the United States and Israel launched significant attacks across Iran on Saturday, prompting immediate global concerns of a broader regional conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump’s simultaneous appeal to the Iranian people to “take over your government” added another layer of complexity, signaling a potential shift towards regime change as a U.S. objective.
The German government confirmed it was only given notice of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Saturday morning, highlighting the unilateral nature of the strikes. Shortly after the strikes, Chancellor Merz spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by a German official to The Times of Israel, indicating direct engagement amidst the escalating tensions.
German Chancellor Merz Joins European Call for Restraint
In their joint statement, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Starmer, and President Macron emphasized their countries’ non-participation in the strikes but affirmed close contact with the U.S., Israel, and regional partners. They unequivocally condemned Iranian attacks on countries in the region, urging Iran to cease “indiscriminate military strikes” and seek a negotiated solution for its nuclear program. Crucially, the statement also asserted that “the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future,” echoing President Trump’s sentiment without endorsing his call for overthrow.
The three nations have historically spearheaded efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Their unified call for a resumption of negotiations underscores a preference for dialogue over military confrontation, a stance that has become a hallmark of European foreign policy in the Middle East.
The European Dilemma Amidst Escalation in Iran
The U.S. and Israeli strikes have presented a significant quandary for European democracies. While staunchly opposing Iran’s nuclear program and the crackdowns by its hard-line theocracy, European leaders are notably reluctant to embrace unilateral military actions by the U.S. that could be perceived as breaching international law and potentially unleashing a far wider conflict. This dynamic was similarly observed following U.S. strikes on Iran in June and the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro last month.
French President Emmanuel Macron, a vocal proponent of de-escalation, called for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting in response to the strikes. Macron warned that the “escalation underway is dangerous for everyone” and reiterated France’s commitment to offering military aid to its partners in the Middle East, where it maintains a significant military presence. He underscored the severe consequences of a war between the United States, Israel, and Iran for international peace and security.
International Reactions to US-Israel Strikes
Beyond the core European trio, a broader chorus of international voices expressed concern and condemnation. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, characterized the conflict as “perilous” and affirmed efforts to pursue a negotiated peace, while also acknowledging Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs as a serious threat. A joint statement from European Union leaders called for maximum restraint, protection of civilians, and full respect for international law.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide voiced concerns about a “new, extensive war in the Middle East,” while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explicitly rejected the “unilateral military action by the United States and Israel,” describing it as an escalation. Similarly, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) deemed the attacks “totally irresponsible,” warning of increased nuclear proliferation risks.
Further condemnation came from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who warned the region was at the “edge of catastrophe,” and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Russia’s Foreign Ministry went further, calling the strikes a “pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression” and accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of pursuing regime change under the guise of nuclear concerns.
The measured response from German Chancellor Merz and his European counterparts highlights a strategic tightrope walk, where traditional alliances are tested by unilateral actions that risk broader regional instability. While firmly aligned against Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization, the collective European hesitation to endorse the U.S. and Israeli strikes signals a growing divergence on interventionist foreign policy, prioritizing de-escalation and international law over immediate military solutions.