German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heading to Washington after justifying the US-Israeli campaign to topple Iran’s regime, in a bid to appease Donald Trump on Ukraine and trade.
Merz, who is due to meet the US president at the White House on Tuesday, has suggested the strikes that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were justified while directing his criticism at Tehran’s retaliatory strikes. Other European leaders, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, have condemned the US.
“International rules have relatively little effect — all the more so when violations carry few consequences,” Merz said on Sunday. “Now is not the time to lecture our partners and allies. For all our doubts, we share many of their goals — even if we are not in a position to achieve them ourselves.”