Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has expressed growing concern about the direction of the war involving Iran, saying there appears to be no clear strategy to bring the conflict to an end. Speaking in Berlin, Merz warned that the lack of a coordinated plan among key players is raising serious questions about how the fighting will conclude.
The conflict began on 28 February when the United States and Israel carried out coordinated airstrikes on Iran that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The attacks marked the start of the current war and sharply increased tensions across the region.
Iran quickly retaliated by launching drone strikes at Israeli targets and US military bases across the Middle East. Since then, the continued fighting and bombing have caused heavy civilian casualties in several Iranian cities.
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According to rights groups and local reports, more than 1,000 civilians have been killed and thousands injured since the strikes began. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in the southern city of Minab, where a missile strike destroyed a girls’ elementary school, reportedly killing around 165–180 people, many of them schoolchildren, making it one of the worst civilian tragedies since the conflict began.
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Merz said that “with every day this war continues, more questions arise,” highlighting the uncertainty surrounding both the military objectives and the diplomatic path forward. He suggested that without a shared strategy among allies and international partners, the conflict risks dragging on without a convincing resolution.
Germany has so far focused on diplomatic engagement and monitoring the situation closely. Officials in Berlin have repeatedly called for restraint and a clearer international framework aimed at ending the hostilities while preventing further escalation in the region.
