Merz warns against new Iran strikes, says energy costs hit Europe for 100 billion
Wrapping up his Asia trip, the German chancellor urged all sides in the Iran conflict to choose diplomacy, saying higher energy prices alone have cost Europe more than 100 billion euros.
Archive image · Photo: Steffen Prößdorf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for a diplomatic solution to the Iran conflict as he wrapped up a visit to South Korea. "I can only appeal to all parties to the conflict: this conflict cannot be resolved militarily," he said in Seoul, adding that it must be "resolved through talks." Germany and its partners want to coordinate and step up diplomatic efforts through many channels, he said.
Merz also made an economic case, saying Europe also has an economic interest in ending the conflict as quickly as possible. Higher energy prices have cost Europe "more than 100 billion euros over the last eight months," he said. Global energy prices have surged since Iran's Revolutionary Guards effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks come amid speculation about new U.S. strikes on Iran after next Tuesday's midterm elections. According to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump was briefed on military options on Thursday by Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command.