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Germany's Merz Calls for Plan for 'day After' in Iran
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged U.S. and European partners to begin planning for post‑crisis Iran, aiming to foster regional stability, halt Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, support Iranian self‑determination, and prevent future attacks on U.S. or Israeli institutions.
BERLIN, March 1 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on U.S. and European partners to start planning for the future of Iran and the region, saying the people of Iran deserved a better future after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed its supreme leader.
Merz said his government agreed with U.S. goals to end Tehran's nuclear armament and finish a "destructive game" being played by Iran, but he warned of possible dangers ahead.
"This is not without risk. We do not know how far the region will be drawn into escalation by Iran's harsh counterstrikes," Merz told reporters.
Pointing to some reservations over the U.S. and Israeli actions, Merz said now was not the time to lecture partners and allies, despite doubts.
"We want to work with our partners in the U.S., Israel, the region, and Europe to develop an agenda for the day after," said Merz.
His four aims were to ensure peace and stability in the region, to get Iran to end its nuclear and ballistic missile programme, to contribute to a stable future for Iran and to help Iranians decide their own fate.
Merz also said Germany would not tolerate attacks on U.S. or Israeli institutions in the country.
(Reporting by Alexander Ratz and Madeline Chambers; Editing by Alison Williams)
Merz called for the U.S. and European partners to plan for Iran's future and regional stability after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Merz aims to ensure regional peace, end Iran's nuclear and missile programs, support a stable future for Iran, and help Iranians decide their fate.
Merz warned that the situation was risky and unpredictable, with possible regional escalation due to Iran's harsh counterstrikes.
Germany agrees with U.S. goals regarding nuclear disarmament but expressed reservations about recent actions and stressed the importance of cooperation.
Merz stated that Germany would not tolerate attacks on U.S. or Israeli institutions within the country.
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