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Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticized the United States for lacking an “exit strategy” in the Iran war, saying Tehran is negotiating skillfully and appears stronger than expected.
Speaking during a discussion with high school students in Marsberg, western Germany, Merz said the U.S. “clearly went into this war in Iran without any strategy at all,” German media reported.
“The problem with such conflicts is always this: You don’t just have to get in; you also have to get out,” Merz said, referring to Afghanistan and Iraq.
Merz said he did not believe the U.S. could end the war in Iran quickly because “the Iranians are obviously stronger than expected.”
He also said that the Americans did not appear to have a convincing negotiation strategy. “At the moment, I don’t see what exit strategy the Americans are choosing,” Merz said.
Merz said Iranian leaders were “obviously negotiating very skillfully,” or “very skilled at not negotiating.”
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by the so-called Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),” he said.
The German chancellor said Iran had humiliated the U.S. by getting its officials to travel to Pakistan and leave without results.
Merz said the war was affecting Germany’s economy, pointing to price pressures linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s a rather tricky situation at the moment and it’s costing us a great deal of money,” he said. “This conflict, this war against Iran, has a direct impact on our economic performance.”
Germany last week cut its growth forecast for this year and next, blaming the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Merz’s conservative-led coalition now expects the economy to grow 0.5% this year, down from a previous estimate of 1.0%. For 2027, the forecast was lowered to 0.9% from 1.3%.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Germany, said pressure on Iran should continue and sanctions should not be dropped yet.
“We first have to see a fundamental change in Iran for the dropping of sanctions,” she said.
A Bild am Sonntag poll earlier this month found 70% of eligible voters dissatisfied with Merz’s performance, while 21% said they were satisfied.
The poll also found 73% dissatisfied with the center-right coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, while 20% showed satisfaction.
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