German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) firmly backed the United States and Israel after their strike on Iran. “The German government leaves no doubt about how we view the Iranian regime” he said on Sunday at the chancellery. He identified the mullahs’ rule as a terrorist regime responsible for decades of oppression of the Iranian people. During the New‑Year protests alone, thousands were killed. “The regime threatens Israel’s very existence and is responsible for the terror carried out by Hamas and Hezbollah” Merz added.
He said the German government shares the relief many Iranians feel that the regime is “now at its end”. “With the United States and Israel we share the interest in ending this regime’s terror and stopping its dangerous nuclear and ballistic buildup” he told reporters. The military strikes are meant to halt the destructive play of a weakened regime, although they are not without risk. The extent of potential counter‑attacks remains unclear, and he urged Tehran’s leadership to end the unlawful strikes immediately.
Merz further noted that it is uncertain whether external air raids could spark an internal political shift in Iran, given the opaque nature of the country’s internal dynamics. The German government draws sober conclusions for its own conduct. “International law will achieve little if it largely remains effect‑less” he said. Calls from Europe-and particularly from Germany-for condemning Iranian violations and adopting extensive sanctions have proved largely ineffective over the years. “This is partly because we have not been willing to use military force to enforce fundamental interests when necessary” Merz said. “Now is not the moment to lecture our partners and allies”.