Merz's twist on the conflict in Iran: "It's not our war"

BerlinFriedrich Merz is now speaking frankly. The German Chancellor initially showed understanding for the US and Israeli attacks against Iran. However, as the days passed, he nuanced his position. Now, three weeks after the start of the offensive, he rules out any German involvement in the conflict—unlike what US President Donald Trump is demanding—and proclaims: "It's not our war."

In just a few days, the Christian Democrat has gone from being the European leader most reluctant to criticize Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to distancing himself from the war. He is now moving closer to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, whose "No to war" stance initially irritated the German government to the point that Berlin accused him of political opportunism.

The German Chancellor's evolution can be understood as a sign of pragmatism and the ability to react to events, although he has also been criticized for his inconsistency. "This is not the time to lecture our partners and allies. Despite all the doubts, we share many of their objectives," Merz said on March 1, the day after the attack that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The objectives Merz was referring to are the end of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the fall of the ayatollahs' regime. For Berlin, Tehran is "a terrorist regime responsible for the oppression of the Iranian people for decades" and one that "threatens the existence of the State of Israel and is responsible for the terrorism of Hamas and Hezbollah."

Two days after this initial statement, Merz visited Trump in the Oval Office. It did not go well. While Trump threatened Spain with trade sanctions, Germany's partner in the European Union, The chancellor remained silent He even sided with the US president when he demanded increased military spending from Madrid. Merz's attitude, a conservative leader who has never connected with the social democrat Sánchez, deeply displeased the Spanish government and led to one of the coldest moments in years between Berlin and Madrid.

A matter of state

Merz, in power since May 2025, has for years been considered a staunch Atlanticist, but with Trump's return to the White House, he has advocated for a Europe more independent of Washington, capable of ensuring its own defense. The existence and security of Israel are traditionally considered a matter of national interest for Germany, due to the country's historical responsibility for the murder of six million Jews during the Nazi era. Regarding Merz's shift on the Iran war, Christian Democratic MP Norbert Röttgen considers it "perfectly natural" that the Chancellor has been softening his stance. The conservative MP defended Merz's silence in the face of Trump's criticism of Spain in the Oval Office during a meeting with the foreign press. He added that, for Germany, and ultimately for Spain, it would have been riskier to respond to the US president and perhaps provoke his anger and retaliation than to remain silent in the face of his attacks.

Röttgen believes that Pedro Sánchez, with his resounding "No to war," "is campaigning," which he considers legitimate. However, it is not in the German government's best interest to behave "provocatively," he adds, implying that this is what the Spanish president is doing. "We are not interested in turning the transatlantic relationship into a domestic election campaign," he explains.

The distance between Germany and Spain has narrowed with each passing day. "It is not our war; we did not start it. We want diplomatic solutions and a swift end, but sending more warships to the region does not help," said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a Social Democrat, this week.

Doubts are growing

Although the German government continues to share with Israel and the United States the goal of ensuring that Iran does not pose a future threat to Israel or its neighboring states, doubts about the war are growing in Berlin. The United States and Israel did not consult the Europeans before attacking Iran. The Chancellor believes that, to date, there is no convincing plan for how this military operation could succeed. Had Washington consulted them, they would have advised against pursuing this course of action, Merz stated. The conservative leader is concerned about how a new regional escalation or the disintegration of Iran would affect security and energy supplies, and "possibly also trigger mass migration movements." This could embolden the far right in an election year in Germany: regional elections are being held in five federal states. The Chancellor has made it clear that, as long as the war continues, Germany will not participate in a military mission to guarantee free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. "We don't have the mandate from the United Nations, the European Union, or NATO that the Constitution requires," he reminded everyone. "This war harms us all. Incidentally, that includes the United States," he added.