German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's actions in the war with Iran on Friday, stating that they represent a "major escalation" rather than an attempt to end hostilities, LETA reported, citing DPA.
"What Trump is doing right now is not de-escalation or an attempt to find a peaceful solution, but a major escalation with an unclear outcome," Merz said at a conference organized by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Merz also expressed doubts that a change of power could be achieved in Iran.
"Is regime change really the goal?" Merz questioned. "If that is the goal, then I don’t think they will achieve it. In the past, it has mostly failed."
Rhetoric between Washington and Berlin has intensified in recent days.
On Thursday, Trump criticized Germany for not helping to ensure the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
He stated that he finds the remarks of German officials about the war with Iran to be "inappropriate." "This is not our war," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius previously said.
