German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed support for the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, saying Germany shares the interest of seeing the Iranian regime's terror ended and its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme stopped. "We share the relief of many Iranians that this mullah regime is now coming to an end," Merz said on Sunday in Berlin.
"Together with the United States and Israel, we share the interest in putting an end to the terror of this regime and stopping Iran's dangerous nuclear and ballistic armament."
The Chancellor acknowledged that moving against a weakened leadership in Tehran carried risk. "We do not know what escalation the fierce Iranian counterstrikes will drag the region into," he said. Merz confirmed the German government had "extensively discussed" whether the strike on Iran was justified under international law. Germany recognised the "dilemma" that decades of legal and diplomatic measures had failed to produce results against the Tehran leadership.
He said this was not the moment to "lecture our partners and allies." The United States and Israel were seeking to end the conflict through military action and eliminate the threat posed by terrorism and nuclear-capable missiles. "There is no ideal moment to undertake something like this. But there can be a moment when it is too late," Merz said. The German government called on Tehran to "immediately stop these indiscriminate attacks."
In the wake of the strikes, the German government placed particular focus on protecting the public inside Germany. "We are doing everything here in Germany to ensure public safety," Merz said. The Chancellor said the priority was the "protection of Jewish, Israeli and American institutions" as well as Iranians living in Germany and their institutions. "We will not tolerate antisemitic or anti-American attacks on German soil," he added.
At Merz's request, state interior ministries held detailed security briefings on Saturday. Germany's National Security Council convened on Sunday to assess the situation. Merz said there were "currently no findings suggesting we face a very serious threat," but that the situation would continue to be closely monitored. Security authorities were focused on "protecting the people in this country, protecting our infrastructure, and protecting those who are living in Germany and hoping for a better future in their home country of Iran."
Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, warned of potential threats inside the country. "It must be assumed that Jewish public institutions such as schools or synagogues may be considered as targets for possible retaliatory measures," a spokesperson told the newspaper taz. The agency assessed a "continued high abstract threat level" for institutions associated with Israel and the United States, including diplomatic missions and military sites.
Marc Henrichmann, chairman of the parliamentary oversight body for Germany's intelligence services, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that "retaliatory measures, including by Iranian sleeper cells in Europe, cannot be ruled out." He said protection concepts needed to be further adapted where necessary. "Vigilance is now the order of the day," he said.
Merz said the German government had taken precautions to support German nationals currently in the affected region. He described several thousand German tourists currently in the area, with many German citizens also living permanently in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Foreign Ministry was providing information and support to those affected.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
