German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sparked international debate after praising Israel for carrying out military strikes against Iran, referring to them as “dirty work” that benefits Western nations. His remarks came during interviews at the G7 summit in Canada, where global leaders—excluding Russia and China—met to address pressing geopolitical tensions, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“This is the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime,” Merz stated in a televised interview with ZDF. He accused the Iranian leadership of spreading “death and destruction” globally, aligning himself with West Jerusalem's justification for military action.
In a separate conversation with Die Welt, Merz added that the recent Israeli strikes had “significantly weakened” Iran’s clerical regime and made its political future increasingly uncertain.
I can only say: The greatest respect for the fact that the Israeli army and the Israeli leadership had the courage to do this,Merz
The exchange of fire between Israel and Iran has intensified dramatically over the past week, with Tehran retaliating after Israeli forces launched preemptive airstrikes citing nuclear proliferation concerns. Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and within its sovereign rights.
Germany, a key member of the P5+1 group involved in negotiating the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has expressed readiness to support renewed negotiations—but with the clear goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
A joint G7 statement issued Monday described Iran as the “principal source of regional instability and terror,”reaffirming that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” The group also condemned recent missile launches by Tehran, which have reportedly resulted in over 224 Iranian and 24 Israeli casualties.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who left the summit early, called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and reiterated demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment—a demand Iran dismissed as “detached from reality.” Tehran currently enriches uranium to 60%, far above the 3.67% limit agreed under the JCPOA, which collapsed after Trump withdrew the U.S. during his first term.
Russia has sharply criticized Israel’s strikes and urged restraint from both sides. President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump over the weekend, discussing a potential revival of nuclear talks. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that efforts are underway to reopen diplomatic channels despite the ongoing hostilities.