Iran says Merz’s praise of Israeli campaign makes Berlin complicit

“The Chancellor persists in his support for the Israeli regime’s lawless behavior and atrocity crimes, even at the cost of violating the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Friday on X.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, defended Israel’s attacks Iran, calling them legitimate self-defense.

“I have no doubt about the legitimacy and legality under international law of what Israel has done,” Merz said.

“Saying it was a preemptive strike against a potentially imminent nuclear attack from Iran is only one of several possible assumptions. One could also conclude that Israel has been attacked almost daily for years and has the right to defend itself militarily.”

During the conflict, Merz said Israel was doing the West's "dirty work" for it by degrading their shared enemy.

“Endorsing an injustice is no less than complicity in it,” Baqaei added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview on Thursday that Israel had rolled back Iran's nuclear program—but implied that the confrontation with the Islamic Republic is not yet over.

Netanyahu cited Merz in the interview as one of the only heads of state to publicly back Israel's campaign.

Iran and Israel are currently observing a ceasefire following the recent 12-day war.