Iran Humiliating US in Talks: German Chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply criticized Iran's handling of nuclear negotiations, describing the process as a humiliation for the United States. Speaking to students in Marsberg, Merz highlighted the pattern of American officials traveling to Islamabad, only to leave without achieving any concrete outcomes. He characterized Iran's approach as a deliberate tactic of "not negotiating," designed to frustrate and embarrass the U.S.

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The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather very skilled at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result.

Merz specifically pointed to the Revolutionary Guards as key players in this strategy, suggesting that the Iranian leadership is deliberately orchestrating these diplomatic setbacks. He conveyed his strong hope for a rapid conclusion to the ongoing conflict and the diplomatic impasse. The Chancellor also revealed that Germany and other European nations were not consulted prior to the U.S. and Israel initiating attacks on Iran on February 28th. He had previously expressed his skepticism directly to U.S. President Donald Trump regarding this matter.

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An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.

Furthermore, Merz warned that the consequences of the conflict are already negatively impacting Germany's economy. This sentiment reflects a broader European concern about the economic repercussions of geopolitical instability, particularly when key allies act without sufficient consultation. From a German perspective, the situation underscores a desire for more coordinated foreign policy and a cautious approach to military engagements that could destabilize global markets and harm national economic interests. The Chancellor's remarks emphasize a need for diplomatic solutions and a more predictable international relations framework.

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Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the United States and Israel started attacks on Iran on 28 February, adding that he had conveyed his scepticism directly to US President Donald Trump afterwards.