German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the United States is facing a strategic setback in its conflict with Iran, adding that President Donald Trump appears to have no clear exit strategy while Tehran is strengthening its position.
Speaking to reporters, Merz said the situation has become increasingly difficult for Washington to manage and warned that finding a workable path to end the conflict may prove challenging.
He compared the current crisis to past US military engagements such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, where long-term involvement eventually resulted in costly and complicated withdrawals.
Merz said Iranian officials are managing negotiations effectively and have shown greater resilience than many expected. He added that the United States appears to be losing leverage, particularly due to the growing influence of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The German chancellor stressed the need for a quick end to the conflict, saying the war is also affecting Germany through higher energy prices and increasing pressure on industrial output.
He added that Berlin is prepared to support international efforts aimed at securing key global shipping routes, including the possible deployment of minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Merz clarified that any such involvement would depend on the conflict first coming to an end.
