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Where does Germany stand on the Iran war?

08:45

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Matthew Moore in Berlin
March 17, 2026

Germany backs its allies — yet questions are growing. As strikes escalate and prices rise, Friedrich Merz faces a legal, political, and economic tightrope. What's at stake for Germany?

Germany is walking a tightrope over the Iran conflict. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has voiced support for the US-Israel goals in Iran, but he's avoided weighing in on the conflict's legality and is also increasingly questioning the strategy. Coalition partners and public opinion are widely skeptical, amid growing concerns of escalation and economic fallout. Rising oil prices and political uncertainties are exposing Germany's fraught position as a global balancing act.

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