Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that Berlin would have advised against the current US-Israel military approach toward Iran if it had been consulted, underscoring differences among Western allies.
Addressing parliament, Merz stated that Germany shares the broader objective with the US and Israel of ensuring that Iran no longer poses a threat. However, he criticized the lack of coordination, noting that Washington did not seek Berlin’s input before moving forward.
Read More: Germany urges preservation of Iran’s territorial integrity
Merz accused the Iranian regime of long-standing violations of international norms, alleging it has fueled instability and supported militant activities across the region. Despite this, he emphasized that Germany has serious concerns about the current military approach and questioned the absence of a clear strategy from the US and Israel.
View this post on Instagram
He stressed that Germany would not participate in the conflict and called for a swift end to hostilities. According to Merz, Europe’s priority is to prevent further escalation, maintain regional stability, and avoid the collapse of Iran.
He warned that such a collapse could significantly undermine European security, disrupt energy supplies, and potentially trigger large-scale migration flows toward the continent.
Meanwhile, security officials in Sweden warned that the Middle East conflict has heightened threats to American and Israeli interests globally. Charlotte von Essen, head of the Swedish Security Service, said the situation has worsened the overall global security environment.
Read More: US no longer needs help from allies on Iran, says Trump
Despite these developments, Sweden maintained that Russia remains its primary security concern. Officials also pointed to increased unpredictability in Iran’s behavior and warned of potential attacks targeting US or Israeli-linked sites, as well as Jewish communities and opposition figures.
Swedish authorities further alleged that Iran could use proxy networks, including criminal groups, to carry out acts of violence, claims that Tehran has denied.