Iran's foreign minister threatens Germany after Merz cites over 100 billion euro energy costs

Merz's case for a diplomatic exit

Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke in Seoul on 30 October during a visit to South Korea. He said Germany was looking for a diplomatic way out of the war, which had pushed up energy prices for European businesses and consumers. By his account, the extra costs had reached more than 100 billion euros, so Germany had a strong economic interest in ending the conflict as quickly as possible. He said Berlin was coordinating and strengthening its diplomatic efforts through many channels. Merz also appealed to all parties to the conflict.

“This conflict cannot be resolved militarily.”

Araghchi's threat

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded on X on Saturday, 31 October, calling Merz's figure small next to what Iran's armed forces could do. His post warned of a retaliation against anyone who dared to harm the Iranian people.

“100 billion euros is nothing compared to the devastating blow Iran's powerful armed forces will deal to those who dare harm our people.”

Araghchi also declared that red lines belong to the past. In the event of a new war, he said, massive strikes and damage well above 100 billion dollars would follow. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, criticized Europe's concern over energy costs on Friday, 30 October, asking on X whether Europeans had thought the consequences of applauding war crimes would not reach them too.

The 2025 'dirty work' remark

Israel had launched a 12-day war against Iran in June 2025, and Araghchi pointed to a remark Merz made during that period. In a ZDF interview on 17 June 2025, during the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Merz called Israel's strikes on Iran dirty work done for everyone. He also praised the courage of the Israeli army and government, saying Europe might otherwise have seen months and years more of the regime's terror, possibly with a nuclear weapon. Araghchi accused him of having welcomed the US and Israeli air strikes last year as Europe's dirty work. The remark drew wide criticism, and Merz later said he had described it that way, with no need to repeat it.

“I described it that way, there is no need to repeat it. It can be expressed one way or another.”

Talks stall as tensions rise

Peace talks between Tehran and Washington have been stalled since July. According to Iranian media, a Qatari delegation met Iranian authorities in Tehran on 30 October, the second Qatari visit in a week. The visit came as US media speculated about a possible new escalation. Merz made his remarks in Seoul the same day, and Araghchi's post followed on Saturday, 31 October. The war began on 28 February 2026, when Israel and the United States attacked Iran, and Merz put the extra energy costs over the eight months since.