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Merz-Ties with Trump Remain Good Despite Iran War Friction

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says his personal relationship with US President Donald Trump remains good despite a recent exchange of sharp rhetoric over the Iran war. Merz criticized the US for entering the war without a strategy, prompting Trump to dismiss his comments on social media. Merz called for a swift resolution to the conflict, which has disrupted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Germany has offered to help secure the waterway once all combat operations cease.

Key Points: Merz: Ties with Trump Good Despite Iran War Friction

  • Merz says ties with Trump remain good
  • Merz criticizes US "planless" war in Iran
  • Trump calls Merz "doesn't know what he's talking about"
  • Germany offers to help secure Strait of Hormuz after combat ends
  • Ceasefire achieved April 8, but talks failed in Islamabad
2 min read

German Chancellor says ties with Trump remain good despite friction over Iran

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says personal ties with US President Donald Trump remain good despite sharp rhetoric over the Iran war, calling for swift resolution.

"The problem with such conflicts is always: you don't just have to go in, you also have to get out. - Friedrich Merz"

Berlin, April 30

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said his personal relationship with US President Donald Trump remains good despite a recent exchange of sharp rhetoric regarding the war in Iran.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday (local time), Merz said he and Trump remain "on good speaking terms," adding that he simply had doubts from the beginning regarding the actions initiated with the war.

Merz called for a swift resolution to the conflicts in Iran, as Germany and Europe are suffering considerably from the consequences of the conflicts, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier this week, Merz criticised the United States for its "planless" military engagement in Iran, saying that the United States "is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership."

In response, Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday that Merz "doesn't know what he's talking about" and is indifferent to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Speaking at the Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium, a school in Marsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Merz expressed his scepticism about Washington's ability to quickly conclude its war with Iran.

The United States "obviously went into this war without any strategy," Merz was quoted by the German magazine Spiegel as saying, adding that the Iranian side is negotiating highly skillfully.

"The problem with such conflicts is always: you don't just have to go in, you also have to get out," he said.

Merz reiterated Germany's offer to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and restore global oil supply chains. However, he stressed that Germany will only participate once all combat operations have ceased.

On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. interests in the Middle East, and a tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global route for oil and gas shipments.

A ceasefire was achieved on April 8, but Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement in their talks in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. The United States later imposed its own blockade on the waterway.

The disruptions in the Strait have sharply driven up energy prices, with Brent crude climbing above 107 US dollars per barrel on Monday.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
As a Westerner living in India, I find Merz's comments refreshingly honest. Trump's "deal-making" approach doesn't work with complex geopolitics. Germany is right to demand a ceasefire before helping secure the strait. The $107/barrel oil is hurting everyone, especially developing nations like India.
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Vikram M
What Merz said about Iran negotiating "highly skillfully" - that's what happens when you underestimate your opponent. The US thought this would be a quick win. Meanwhile, India is stuck between needing Iranian oil and maintaining ties with the US. Our foreign policy team must be working overtime on this one. 🛢️
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Emma D
I agree with Merz's call for a swift resolution, but let's be real - Germany has been a reluctant ally in this whole affair. They benefit from US security umbrella but criticize when things get tough. The Strait of Hormuz blockade is illegal and dangerous. Time for Europe to step up properly.
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Rohit P
Merz is absolutely right about the lack of strategy. This whole Iran war was a disaster from the start. Killing a country's Supreme Leader and thinking that would solve everything? Naive. India has managed its relations with Iran carefully for decades - that's proper diplomacy, not this cowboy approach. 🇮🇳
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Michael C
Interesting how Merz criticizes the US for lack of planning, but Germany's offer to help secure the strait only after combat ends is itself a bit convenient. Classic European hedging. But I do agree with his core point - wars need an exit strategy. India's "strategic autonomy" approach looks smarter by the day.

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