German Chancellor Merz: I don't think they can achieve regime change

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made assessments regarding the Iran war at a conference organized by a German media outlet in the city of Frankfurt.

Addressing the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, Merz said, "I am not convinced that what Israel and the US are doing right now will be truly successful.

I have serious doubts about whether there is a strategy and whether this strategy is being implemented successfully. In this respect, the process may take longer and the situation will likely not improve," he said.

"The US and Israel will not be able to reach the goal of regime change in Iran"

Chancellor Merz stated, "I hope every day that this war will end one day, but right now the Americans and Israelis are sinking deeper into this conflict every day, and in my opinion, they have no strategy. At least I haven't heard anything so far. They have no strategy at all. First, let's ask this; what do they actually want? Is the goal really regime change? If that is the goal, I don't think they will achieve it. Such goals have largely backfired and often did not work. It lasted 20 years in Afghanistan and there was no regime change," he said.

"What Trump is doing right now is not de-escalating"

Criticizing the path followed and the statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding the Iran war, Merz said, "What Trump is doing right now is not an attempt to de-escalate and reach a peaceful solution, but to escalate tensions that will end with an uncertain outcome. This escalating tension is a threat not only to those directly affected, but to all of us," he said.

Chancellor Merz reiterated that if a ceasefire is achieved, Germany could contribute to ensuring the security of ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, saying, "This requires an international mandate. In Germany, it requires a Cabinet decision first, and then the approval of the German Bundestag. This option can be carried out militarily with the decision of the United Nations (UN), NATO, the European Union (EU), and the Bundestag. However, we are far from these today," he said.