Full Breakdown
German Chancellor Accuses United States of Being Humiliated by Iran
4/28/2026, 9:00:38 PM
Core Event: Merz’s Public Rebuke
On Monday, 27 April 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed students at the Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium in Marsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and declared that Iran’s leadership is “humiliating” the United States. He said the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is drawing U.S. envoys to Pakistan only to send them back empty-handed and that Washington lacks a clear exit strategy for the war that began with U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February.
Background & Context
The conflict erupted after the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iranian targets, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil. European governments, including Germany, were not consulted before the operation. Negotiations mediated through Pakistan, Oman and Russia have stalled, and the United States cancelled a planned envoy trip by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on 26 April, citing “infighting” within Iran’s leadership.
Economic Toll on Germany
Merz warned that the war is “a pretty tangled situation” that is directly eroding Germany’s economic output. He quantified the impact as “a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of economic strength.” The European Commission reported that the EU is paying an additional €25 billion for oil and gas imports since the conflict began, a cost reflected in rising energy prices across the continent.
Official Statements & Responses
Merz reiterated Germany’s offer to deploy minesweepers to clear the partially mined Strait of Hormuz, but conditioned the deployment on a cessation of hostilities. He emphasized that Europe was not consulted before the U.S.–Israeli strike and that he had voiced his skepticism directly to President Donald Trump in two conversations. He also called for greater European unity, noting that the EU’s 100 million-plus population could match U.S. power if coordinated effectively.
Criticism & Opposition
Other European leaders echoed Merz’s concerns. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni all voiced misgivings about the U.S. approach and urged diplomatic solutions. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the war’s escalation could have severe humanitarian and economic consequences for Europe.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise number of countries in the coalition supporting a diplomatic response (some cite “more than 50,” others give no figure) and on the exact status of mines in the strait. The rationale for the U.S. envoy cancellation is described variously as “infighting” in Iran, “travel cost,” or “insufficient Iranian concessions,” leaving the official motive ambiguous.
Verbatim Quotes
- “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” — Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany
- “The problem with conflicts like this is always: you don't just have to get in, you have to get out again. We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq.” — Friedrich Merz
- “If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,” — Friedrich Merz (to President Donald Trump)
- “We have offered, also as Europeans, to send German minesweepers to clear the strait, which has obviously been mined in part,” — Friedrich Merz
What’s Next
Iran has presented a “Hormuz-first” proposal that separates the reopening of the strait from nuclear negotiations, while the United States signals a willingness to resume talks only after Tehran offers concrete concessions. European leaders are preparing a coordinated diplomatic push at upcoming NATO and EU meetings.
