German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized the United States over its handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, accusing Washington of being “humiliated” by Tehran and warning that the war risks spiraling into a prolonged quagmire without a clear exit strategy. The remarks, delivered during a school visit in western Germany on Monday, mark a significant escalation in Berlin’s frustration with the Trump administration’s approach to the crisis.
Speaking to reporters, Merz did not mince words. “The Iranians are clearly stronger than expected, and the Americans clearly have no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either,” he said, according to the German Press Agency (dpa). “A whole nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.” His comments reflect growing alarm in Europe over the war’s economic and diplomatic fallout, particularly as energy shortages strain Germany’s already fragile economy.
The chancellor’s rebuke comes just days after a chaotic weekend in U.S.-Iran diplomacy, during which President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to Pakistan. The visit had been billed as a potential breakthrough in stalled negotiations, but its sudden cancellation underscored the volatility of the talks. Merz seized on the incident to question Washington’s broader strategy, suggesting the U.S. Had entered the conflict without a coherent plan.
“The U.S. Quite obviously went into this war without any strategy,” Merz said, drawing parallels to America’s protracted engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. “This makes it harder to end the conflict, and the longer it drags on, the more it will cost—economically, politically, and in human lives.” His warnings carry weight in Europe, where leaders have resisted U.S. Calls for NATO to join the fight. Even as Germany has not ruled out a limited role in securing the Strait of Hormuz—including deploying minesweepers—Merz has insisted the conflict “is not NATO’s war.”
The public dressing-down from one of Washington’s closest allies highlights the widening rift between the U.S. And its European partners over Iran. At the outset of the war, Merz had expressed cautious support for the goal of regime change in Tehran, despite reservations about the Trump administration’s tactics. But as the conflict enters its second year with no clear resolution in sight, his tone has shifted dramatically. The economic toll has been particularly acute for Germany, where rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions have deepened an already severe downturn.
Analysts say Merz’s remarks could signal a broader European pivot away from unconditional support for U.S. Policy in the Middle East. While Berlin has not formally broken with Washington, its refusal to commit military resources beyond post-conflict stabilization efforts suggests a growing willingness to chart an independent course. The development underscores the fragile state of transatlantic unity as the war in Iran shows no signs of abating.
For now, the White House has not directly responded to Merz’s comments, but the criticism is likely to fuel further debate in Washington about the administration’s handling of the crisis. With no immediate end in sight, the war’s ripple effects—from soaring global oil prices to a surge in refugees—continue to reshape geopolitical alliances and test the limits of Western solidarity.
