Middle East conflict may be long-lasting, German leader warns

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that military strikes carried out by the United States against Iran risk prolonging the conflict in the Middle East and creating serious uncertainty about the region’s future stability.

Commenting on the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran, Merz said the consequences of the operation remain unpredictable. “Conducting such a military operation at this time carries risks. At present, we do not know what structures will exist in Iran in the future or which people will be working within them,” he stated.

The German leader added that he expects the crisis to be long-lasting, expressing caution about prospects for a rapid resolution. “We hope for peace, but we are not certain,” Merz concluded.

His remarks followed large-scale strikes launched on February 28, when Israel and the United States targeted facilities inside Iran. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a “preemptive strike,” while US officials later confirmed Washington’s participation. US President Donald Trump subsequently called on Iran’s armed forces to lay down their weapons and urged the country’s population to “take their destiny into their own hands.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were numerous indications that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed during the operation. On March 1, Israel Katz officially announced that Khamenei had died as a result of the Israeli strike.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory as well as US military bases across the Middle East. Israel subsequently declared a state of emergency, while Iranian counterstrikes also affected other countries in the region, highlighting the widening scope of the confrontation.

By Tamilla Hasanova