Marsberg, Germany. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Iran’s leadership was humiliating the United States and questioned what exit strategy Washington was pursuing in the conflict. His remarks highlighted divisions between the United States and its European NATO allies.
Merz’s comments on negotiations and the United States
Merz said Iran was getting U.S. officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results. Speaking to students in the town of Marsberg in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, he said Iranians were “very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating,” and described the situation as a humiliation by Iran’s leadership, particularly the Revolutionary Guards.
Disagreements among NATO allies
Merz said Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, and said he conveyed his scepticism directly to U.S. President Donald Trump afterwards. Merz said that if he had known the conflict would continue for five or six weeks and worsen, he would have expressed his view more emphatically, comparing the situation to previous U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trump has criticised NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict. The waterway has remained virtually shut, causing market turmoil and unprecedented disruption in energy supplies.
Diplomatic developments involving Pakistan, Oman, and Russia
Hopes of reviving peace efforts receded after Trump scrapped a planned Saturday visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi travelled to Russia on Monday after failed talks in Pakistan and Oman.
Strait of Hormuz and minesweeper offer
Merz said it was evident the Strait of Hormuz had been at least partially mined. He said Europeans had offered to send German minesweepers to help clear the strait.
What do you think the divisions between the United States and its European NATO allies could mean for efforts to address the conflict?