Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGerman Chancellor Merz was briefed by Netanyahu on Israel's attack on Iran, targeting nuclear sites. Germany urges de-escalation and coordinates with allies.
BERLIN (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Israel's attack on Iran in a phone call on Friday morning, Merz said in a statement.
Israel has a right to defend itself and Iran should not develop nuclear weapons, the statement said, but Merz called on both sides to refrain from escalation.
Israel launched strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of an operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Merz said Germany was coordinating closely with partners, particularly the United States, Britain and France.
"We call on both sides to refrain from steps that could lead to further escalation and destabilize the entire region," Merz said.
Merz convened a security cabinet meeting, which agreed to take all necessary precautions to protect German citizens in Israel, Iran and the region, and to increase the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities, the statement said.
Merz said Germany has expressed concern about Iran's advanced nuclear weapons programme for many years and that Iran continues to fail to fulfill its obligations to disclose its work on enriching nuclear-capable material.
(Writing by Matthias Williams, Editing by Rachel More)
Chancellor Merz stated that Israel has a right to defend itself and emphasized the need for both sides to refrain from escalation.
Israel's strikes targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military commanders to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Germany is coordinating closely with partners like the US, UK, and France, and has convened a security cabinet meeting to protect its citizens in the region.
Germany has expressed ongoing concerns about Iran's advanced nuclear weapons program and its failure to disclose its work on enriching nuclear materials.
The security cabinet meeting agreed to take all necessary precautions to protect German citizens in Israel, Iran, and the surrounding region.
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