G7 summit: Merz: Israel does “dirty work” for us in Iran

From the perspective of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Israel is currently doing “the dirty work” for the whole west with Iran. This made this clear in a ZDF interview on the edge of the G7 summit in Canada in a ZDF interview. “I can only say, the greatest respect for the Israeli army to have the courage to do the Israeli government the courage to do that,” he said. “Otherwise we might have seen this terror of this regime for months and years and then possibly with a nuclear weapon in hand.” Merz also referred to Iranian drone deliveries for the Russian attack war against Ukraine.

Merz considers it open to whether US President Donald Trump orders his military to intervene to war on the side of Israel. “Obviously there is no decision by the American government,” he told the broadcaster World TV. This would “probably only hit in the near future,” added Merz. “It now also depends on how far the Mullah regime is willing to return to the negotiating table.”

At RTL/NTV, however, Merz said on the question of an American intervention that his assumption was “that the Americans no longer need it”. “Unless there are now reactions on the part of the Iranian government with regard to important supply facilities, important energy supply facilities. Then there could be a point for the American government to intervene again in this conflict.”

“It would be good if this regime came to an end”

In the course of the Israeli attacks against the Iranian nuclear facilities, the Chancellor hopes for an end to the government in Tehran. “We are dealing with a terrorist regime here and outside. It would be good if this regime came to an end,” said the CDU leader of the ARD. At the same time, he offered the Iranian government to return to the negotiating table.

“There is still the possibility for the part of the government in Iran, which is still able to return to the negotiating table and discussions. The offer is available,” said Merz. The decision is with the government in Tehran. “And if she is not ready to record the talks, Israel will go through the way.”

Merz: US government is probably advising on bunker-breaking weapons

On the question of the future of the Iranian nuclear program after the attacks, Merz told ZDF that, according to his assumption, this was largely ended by the previous Israeli attacks or at least not simply continued as far. However, it is still to be seen what is with the last, deeply borne enrichment system. “It may only become a few weeks to find out how far the destruction will reach,” he said.

The Chancellor said he suspected that the US government will currently advise bunker-breaking US weapons in Iran. “I am not able to say whether the American government decides to do this at the moment.”