Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports attacks on Iran and calls for planning the "day after"

The situation in the Middle East has entered a phase of radical transformation following massive airstrikes conducted by US and Israeli forces on targets in Iran. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a series of official statements, has unequivocally sided with the allies, rejecting criticism concerning violations of international law by Western forces. Merz stated that "this is not the time to give lessons to partners," which was interpreted as a signal of Berlin's full solidarity with Washington and Jerusalem in the face of the threat from Tehran. The Chancellor emphasized that while military operations involve a significant risk of destabilization, the potential collapse of the theocratic regime in Iran would bring relief to millions of the country's inhabitants and improve global security. The government in Berlin has already begun preparations to develop a diplomatic strategy for the "day after," which envisions support for democratic forces. The direct impetus for Berlin's harsher rhetoric was the reported shelling of field camps of the Bundeswehr stationed in Iraq and Jordan. These attacks, attributed to pro-Iranian militias, did not cause fatalities among German soldiers but became a symbol of direct confrontation between Iran and Europe. In the context of the security threat, Israel took an unusual step and temporarily relocated its strategic government aircraft "Wings of Zion" to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER), considering Germany a safe haven. German-Iranian relations have for decades been based on balancing trade interests with criticism of human rights violations; however, the escalation in 2026 puts an end to the dialogue policy initiated by the 2015 JCPOA nuclear agreement. However, a dispute is growing within the German political scene. Part of the press, including "Süddeutsche Zeitung," accuses the Chancellor of abandoning orthodox interpretations of international law in favor of a hardline power policy. At the same time, Johann Wadephul, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, has ruled out a mass evacuation of German citizens from the Persian Gulf region at this moment, suggesting that Berlin is counting on a rapid containment of chaos following a potential overthrow in Tehran. The European Union remains deeply divided, and Brussels' diplomacy is assessed by experts as ineffective in the face of direct military actions by major powers.„Das ist nicht der Moment, um Partnern und Verbündeten Lektionen zu erteilen.” (This is not the moment to give lessons to partners and allies.) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz