German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz stated Wednesday, March 18, 2026, that Germany would have advised the United States and Israel against launching war on Iran, which is approaching the end of its third week with consequences spreading across the Middle East and global energy markets. The statement reflects mounting European warnings about military escalation and its economic and humanitarian repercussions on the region and world.
Mertz told reporters “we share with Israel and the United States the objective that Iran should no longer pose a threat.” However, he indicated Berlin would not have chosen this path, expressing “many questions about this war” and absence of a “convincing plan” from Washington and Tel Aviv regarding how the operation would succeed.
German Criticism of US-Israeli Consultation and Planning
Mertz pointed out that Washington “did not consult” Berlin regarding the war launch, and that Germany “would have advised against taking this course.” The German Chancellor emphasized that “whatever happens in this war, we will have no role in it,” reflecting a cautious German position toward direct military participation.
The statement reflects deeper German concern about insufficient consultation before launching a military operation of this magnitude that could affect global stability.
Iranian Regime Violations According to Berlin
Mertz said “over years and decades, the Iranian regime violated rule after rule, spread terrorism around the world and destabilized its surroundings. This regime bears responsibility for the current crisis in the region.”
Mertz acknowledges American and Israeli concerns about Iranian threats but disagrees on the chosen method to address them.
Calls for Rapid War Termination
Mertz called for ending the war as quickly as possible, stating “Europe has an interest in a rapid end to the war, preventing further regional escalation, and in avoiding Iran’s collapse as a state.”
Warnings Against Iranian State Collapse
Mertz warned that Iranian state collapse “would seriously undermine our security,” noting that such a scenario “would have cascading consequences for our energy supplies and could trigger massive migration waves.”
These warnings reflect European understanding of interconnections between regional stability and direct European interests.
Unified European Position
Mertz’s statement followed calls from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot for “de-escalation” in the Middle East.
German Warnings of Food Crisis
Wadephul stated at a press conference with Barrot in Berlin that the war “carries the possibility of escalation that could plunge not just the region but the entire world into a very serious crisis.”
He pointed to “fertilizer supplies” from the region as an example, emphasizing they are “so necessary that in case of prolonged disruption, a food crisis would threaten large parts of Africa” and could trigger “refugee flows” from the continent.
Global Economic Consequences
Barrot noted that “the global economy” faces danger from “military escalation” in the region.
The Israeli government and US ally continue assassinating Iranian leadership as the war enters its nineteenth day, disrupting oil trade particularly.
Iranian Warning of Global Ramifications
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Wednesday that “global ramifications remain in their early stages and will affect everyone.”
This Iranian warning reflects understanding that war escalation may impact nations far from the region.
Russia Condemns Assassinations and Nuclear Attacks
Russia on Wednesday condemned the killing of Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani after Tehran vowed retaliation for his death in an Israeli airstrike.
Larijani met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in January, when US Navy ships were heading toward Iran before the American-Israeli air campaign.
Moscow as Strategic Iranian Ally
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “we firmly condemn actions aimed at harming the health and, especially, the killing of Iran’s sovereign and independent leadership. We condemn such actions.”
Moscow is a close Iran ally and condemned American and Israeli attacks, to which Tehran responded with barrages of missile and drone strikes on US allies in the Gulf.
Russia Protests Bushehr Nuclear Facility Attack
Russia on Wednesday condemned the “irresponsible attack” that struck Bushehr nuclear power plant Tuesday evening, the facility Russia built in southern Iran, holding Israel and the United States responsible.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said “we strongly condemn this irresponsible and completely unacceptable attack targeting the inner perimeter of Bushehr nuclear power plant, mere meters from an operational unit.”
Russian Investment in Iranian Infrastructure
Attacking Bushehr represents an assault on direct Russian investment, as Moscow built the facility. Nuclear facility attacks raise legitimate worldwide concerns about nuclear safety and potential radiation leaks.
Russian-Iranian Alliance and Military Cooperation
Russia and Iran, both heavily sanctioned by the West, signed a broad cooperation agreement last year but stopped short of a mutual defense pact.
The publicly released document vaguely stated that Moscow and Tehran agreed to help each other counter common “security threats” and would not provide “assistance to the aggressor” if one side was attacked.
Russian Support for Iran During War
Since the war began, Russia sent humanitarian aid but declined to comment publicly on any military support offered Iran.
The Kremlin last week denied a Washington Post report claiming Russia passed sensitive intelligence to Iran, including locations of US warships and aircraft in the region.
Ukrainian Precedent
Iran emerged as one of Russia’s main allies during the Ukraine war, supplying it at the conflict’s start with drones for Moscow to fire on Ukrainian cities.
This deep history of Russian-Iranian cooperation reflects the value of the strategic relationship between both nations.
Conclusion:
German criticism of the war, alongside European warnings about escalation, joined with Russian condemnation of assassinations and nuclear attacks, reveals increasing international divisions regarding the conflict. While America and Israel share stated objectives to end Iranian threats, the methods and consequences raise deep concerns in Europe and Moscow. As the war enters its third week with warnings of Iranian state collapse and serious global ramifications, international pressure should shift toward finding a political solution before the situation slides into regional chaos.
