German Chancellor Merz says Israel is doing 'dirty work for all of us' by striking Iran

"We are also victims of this regime," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.

Published: June 17, 2025 12:29pm

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday at the G7 summit in Canada that Israel is doing the "dirty work for all of us" by attacking Iran.

“This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us. We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world,” Merz told ZDF, Germany's public-service TV broadcaster, according to The Times of Israel.

The conservative leader told German broadcaster Welt that Iran's leadership has been weakened by Israel's attacks, which began with missile strikes on military and nuclear sites on Friday.

“This regime is very weakened and will probably not return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain. We will have to wait and see,” Merz said.

He also noted that European allies continue to offer diplomatic assistance.

“If a new situation were to arise, Germany, France and the United Kingdom would again be prepared to provide diplomatic assistance, as they were until last Thursday,” Merz added.

On Monday, President Trump signed onto a statement by allies at the summit in support of Israel after initially saying he wouldn't, The New York Times reported. The statement also calls for de-escalation.

"We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East," the statement reads. "In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians.

"Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza. We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability."