‘Bombing Into Submission Not Right’: German Chancellor Rules Out Military Fix To Iran War

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 7:18 PM IST

Speaking at a press briefing, the German Chancellor said the conflict can only be resolved through political means.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on March 17. (AFP photo)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday warned that there is “no military solution” to the ongoing war in Iran, cautioning against any attempt to bomb the country into submission.

Speaking at a press briefing, the German Chancellor said the conflict can only be resolved through political means.

“Bombing it into submission based on all the experience we have gained in the previous years and decades is in all likelihood, not the right approach,” Merz said.

He added that while the current Iranian regime must end and be replaced by a “democratically legitimate government”, military strikes are unlikely to achieve that goal.

“I pointed out the risks of the Iran war from day one. And the risks of this war was high. Very high. And there will be no military solution here, there will only be a political solution,” he emphasised.

Merz also reiterated that NATO is a defence alliance, not an intervention alliance, and Germany will not take part in military actions in Iran.

“NATO is a defence alliance, not an intervention alliance. Therefore, I hope we will treat one another with necessary respect within the alliance. We share the same goal,” he said.

The German leader’s comments come a day after he pushed back US President Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has declared closed to US and US-allied traffic.

“There was never a joint decision on whether to intervene. That is why the question of how Germany might contribute militarily does not arise. We will not do so,” he had said, adding that the US and Israel “did not consult us prior to this war”.

The war began on February 28 when coordinated airstrikes by the United States and Israel killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region and leading to a wider conflict with global repercussions

(With inputs from agencies)

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