Germany Condemns Iran’s Attacks and Calls for Immediate Diplomacy

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

BERLIN, GERMANY — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for an immediate end to Iranian military retaliation on Saturday, urging all parties to return to the negotiating table to prevent a total regional war.

The statement follows massive joint air strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian strategic infrastructure, a development that has triggered heightened security measures and sharp diplomatic friction across the European political spectrum. Merz emphasized that while Germany remains committed to Israel's security, a "negotiated solution" is the only sustainable path forward to protect civilian lives and regional stability.

International Coordination and Diplomatic Calls

Chancellor Merz issued a joint statement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemning the arbitrary nature of Iran's military responses. The leaders clarified that their respective nations were not directly involved in the military strikes but remain in close contact with international partners, including the U.S. and Israel. Merz further stated that his government supports the "right of the Iranian people to decide their own destiny" while insisting that Tehran must cease its destabilizing activities immediately.

In a follow-up briefing via government spokesperson Stefan Cornelius, Merz reiterated that the German government is actively supporting efforts to restart diplomatic channels. The Chancellor highlighted that a lack of restraint could lead to an uncontrollable "cycle of violence" with unpredictable consequences for the global economy and security.

Internal Political Friction and Legal Concerns

Within the German governing coalition, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) warned that the current strikes and counter-strikes threaten to ignite a firestorm across the entire region. SPD Foreign Policy Spokesperson Adid Ahmetović added that while Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, this issue should be addressed through political means rather than war, which he argued "cannot be justified" as a primary solution.

The political opposition in Berlin has been more critical of the Western military intervention. Sören Pellmann, the parliamentary group leader for the Left Party (Die Linke), accused the U.S. and Israel of disregarding international law and risking a devastating war for the civilian population. Similarly, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leadership, including Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, called for all sides to show restraint and adhere strictly to human rights and international law norms.

Escalating Regional Travel and Security Warnings

In response to the volatile situation, the German Foreign Ministry has significantly tightened its travel and security warnings for the entire Middle East. New advisories were issued for Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to existing partial warnings for Iraq and Israel.

A formal "departure call" has been issued for Lebanon, urging all German nationals to leave the country immediately. The ministry reminded the public that a similar warning has been in effect for Iran since late 2022. German foreign missions are reportedly in constant communication with citizens on the ground, and additional security measures have been implemented to protect diplomatic personnel across the region.

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