Germany’s Merz shares US aim to end Iran’s ‘dangerous’ nuclear armament

By Reuters 1 March 2026, 6:35 pm 1 Edit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivers a statement at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, after a hotly contested pensions bill passed Germany's Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, on December 5, 2025. (John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

Germany’s government agrees with the US in wanting to see an end to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic armament, Chancellor Friedrich Merz says, adding, however, that this entails risks.

“We share the US’ interest in seeing an end to this regime’s terror and a halt to dangerous nuclear and ballistic armament,” Merz tells reporters, adding that the strikes were intended to put an end to a destructive game being played by Iran.

“This is not without risk. We do not know how far the region will be drawn into escalation by Iran’s harsh counterstrikes,” he adds.