Faith Nyasuguta
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s conservative leader (Pictured), has delivered a sharp rebuke of Washington’s handling of the Iran conflict, accusing Tehran of outmanoeuvring the United States in stalled negotiations.
Speaking in Marsberg, Merz said: “The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating,” adding that U.S. officials were made to “travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.”
In one of his strongest remarks, he stated: “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards.”
Merz also questioned Washington’s strategy, saying he sees no clear exit plan to the conflict. His comments reflect growing unease among European allies over the direction of U.S. policy toward Iran.
He revealed that Europe was not consulted before military actions involving the United States and Israel earlier this year, noting he had raised concerns directly with Donald Trump. “If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,” he said.
Drawing parallels with past U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Merz warned against prolonged conflicts without a defined endgame.
He also highlighted risks to global energy security, pointing to reports that the Strait of Hormuz has been partially mined. “We have offered… to send German minesweepers to clear the strait,” he said, signalling Europe’s readiness to help stabilise vital shipping routes.
His remarks underscore widening cracks within Western alliances, as European leaders grow increasingly vocal about being sidelined in key geopolitical decisions and concerned about where the conflict is heading.
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