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"Bombing Iran is futile," Merz: The regime must be replaced by a legitimate government, but...
2026-03-17 19:12:09 / BOTA
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that bombing Iran will not help bring about regime change, criticizing the US for lacking an exit strategy from the war.
Merz initially supported Washington after the US and Israel launched unprovoked attacks on Iran late last month, blaming Tehran's leadership for the conflict and saying: "The sooner the mullahs' regime is stopped, the sooner this war will end."
At a press conference on Monday, Merz called for regime change, but said this was unlikely to happen by military means.
"This Iranian regime... must be replaced by a legitimate democratic government. But bombing it out of existence will most likely fail."
He also dismissed German participation in the conflict, including efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route that has been blocked, driving prices up nearly 50% to above $100 a barrel.
“We lack the mandate from the UN, the EU or NATO that is required by law… We will not do it,” Merz said, adding that “this war is not a NATO issue.”
Merz went on to say that the region should not be allowed to slide into a “permanent war,” citing the risks for partners in the Middle East and criticized Washington for lacking a plan to end the conflict. “To this day, we are not aware of any concept of how the operation can succeed… This war must end as soon as possible and with a clear plan and strategy.”
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