Merz, Macron and Starmer condemn Iranian counterattacks

Berlin (dpa) – After the Israeli-American strikes against Iran, Germany, France and the United Kingdom criticised retaliatory attacks by the government in Tehran. “We strongly condemn the Iranian attacks on countries in the region. Iran must cease its arbitrary military strikes,” said a joint statement released in Berlin by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

They continued: “We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution.” Ultimately, the Iranian people had to be allowed to shape their own future, the statement continued, adding that France, Germany and the United Kingdom had repeatedly called on Iran to end its nuclear programme, refrain from destabilising activities and stop violence against its own population.

Israel and the United States launched a new war against Iran with large-scale military strikes in which Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also killed. The Islamic Republic responded with counterattacks on Israel and US military bases in several Gulf states.

Merz, Macron and Starmer said: “We were not involved in the military strikes but remain in close contact with our international partners, including the United States, Israel and partners in the region.”