interview

"It would be good if this mullah regime came to an end": Chancellor Merz emphasized Israel's right to self-defense in an interview with ARD. Iran should not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. He hopes for an agreement in the tariff dispute with the US this summer.

ARD : On Friday, a sovereign state – Israel – began bombing another sovereign state – Iran. In your view, is this a war of aggression?

Friedrich Merz : We discussed the issue intensively all weekend; it was also one of the key topics at the G7 summit in Canada. And we already adopted a declaration on the matter yesterday. It reiterated the State of Israel's right to self-defense and described the nature of the regime in Tehran—namely, as a regime that bears significant responsibility for terrorism around the world. From our perspective, it is unacceptable that Iran is in the process of building a nuclear weapon. In this respect, Israel is now exercising its right to self-defense on its own responsibility.

The ARD interview with Chancellor Merz in full length

ARD : Israel argues for a preemptive strike. An important condition for this is that an attack by the other country is imminent. You spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone last night. Did he provide you with arguments that an Iranian attack on Israel was imminent?

Merz : These arguments were already being made the day before. The International Atomic Energy Agency had issued a statement stating that Iran had once again failed to adhere to the agreement to provide access to all its enrichment facilities, which are numerous and spread throughout the country. Iran immediately afterwards declared that it would now accelerate enrichment.

ARD : But is that a reason for war? Talks with the US were planned for the weekend.

Mer z: This was a decision made by the Israeli government, under its own authority and responsibility. But Israel obviously considered the threat so serious that it decided on this military response. The country has the right to defend itself. And if the Israeli government saw this opportunity now, then I have no reason to publicly contradict it.

"Extermination of the State of Israel elevated to state doctrine"

ARD : Because there are many countries that feel threatened by other countries: Are you worried that international law will be replaced by the law of the strongest?

Merz : This is a unique situation that we have been seeing in the Middle East for years. Israel is surrounded by countries, the vast majority of which have elevated the annihilation of the State of Israel to state doctrine, so to speak. The country that has distinguished itself most for decades is Iran and this mullah regime. Israel has been threatened and is further threatened by a nuclear weapons program. We stated together yesterday that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and also placed this in the context of the State of Israel's right to self-defense.

ARD : How should the nuclear program be ended: militarily or through new talks?

Merz : The situation has changed significantly in the last four days. A military response has now been given after decades of diplomatic efforts failed. The US government withdrew from the talks several years ago, and the Europeans stayed, hoping that things might still improve. This hope was most recently grossly dashed last week.

ARD : Do you also hope that the USA will now destroy these nuclear facilities militarily – and the USA is obviously necessary for this – in order to end this program?

Merz : There is a facility so deeply bunkered that the Israeli army apparently does not have the weapons to destroy it with bunker-busting weapons. Whether the American government will decide to do so, I cannot say at the moment. I suspect that this is, among other things, the subject of the consultations the American government is currently holding in Washington in the presence of the American president. A decision has obviously not been made yet. I cannot anticipate that.

"...then Israel will complete the journey"

ARD : You just said that Iran has been a threat to Israel for decades, and the situation has changed in recent days. Wouldn't it be consistent to bring it to an end this way?

Merz : There is still the possibility for that part of the Iranian government that is still capable of acting to return to the negotiating table and hold talks. The offer stands. If the government wants that, it can be done immediately. But the decision now lies with that government. And if it is not prepared to enter into talks, then Israel will follow this path to the end.

ARD : Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also said yesterday: The crisis can be ended by killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Do you share that assessment?

Merz : That's an assessment made by the Israeli Prime Minister. I suspect he had reason to make this statement publicly. It would certainly be good if this Iranian government no longer had any influence on the country in the future, as a large number of people have long wanted to free themselves from the yoke of this government. We are dealing with a terrorist regime here—both internally and externally. It would be good if this regime were to come to an end.

"I am and remain an optimist"

ARD : But is that really an option for Israel? It's less about the right to exist, but rather, in principle, about replacing the regime. Is that an option open to Israel given its history?

Merz : We know from the history of the last decades that regime change does not always lead to the desired result. But we also have good examples. In Syria, the Assad regime was overthrown. And since then, there has been a new government that is trying to bring peace to the country. And many Syrians who previously fled the old regime are now returning to their homeland. So, there are also good examples in the region. I am and remain optimistic that there will be a good solution to this conflict as well, and that peace in the Middle East may even be a step closer.

"There was no hasty departure here"

ARD : The American president has decided to withdraw from the G7 summit. Have you noticed what exactly prompted this development? What exactly is going on in Washington now?

Merz : Late in the afternoon, the message was sent to the so-called Sherpas – the representatives of the heads of state and government – that the American president would be returning to Washington later that evening. He explained this with reference to the international situation – both Russia/Ukraine and Iran/Israel. The renewed bombings by the Russian side in Ukraine, with many deaths, last night in Kyiv show that he is not entirely wrong in his assessment of the situation. So, there is reason and cause enough to be in Washington now. We discussed all of these topics in detail last night. And there was no hasty departure here, but a planned departure after a detailed day of consultations and talks that lasted well into the evening.

Ukraine's NATO membership"not off the table"

ARD : Two more questions on the topics we're discussing today: You'll be discussing support for Ukraine. In addition to military and economic support, is NATO membership for Ukraine still on the table for you?

Merz : Ukraine has been offered the opportunity to become a member of the European Union. The process has begun. NATO membership is not off the table. But it is not an issue at the moment—it cannot be an issue, because a country at war cannot be admitted to NATO—but in the longer term, of course. Only: First, what Ukraine has offered, what it has offered in turn, must be implemented: namely, an unconditional ceasefire. Putin should really finally accept this offer. And then we must negotiate a peace agreement. But even that is obviously still quite far away.

End of the customs dispute before the summer break?

ARD : An important issue for the German economy is the tariff conflict with the USA. It costs companies a great deal of money and market share every day. Other countries that were also present here, such as Canada or Great Britain, are now very close to a deal, so to speak, but the European Union is not yet. Does the European Union have the right negotiating strategy?

Merz : We are getting closer to an agreement in small steps. I assume that this agreement will be possible before the summer break and that we will then be able to reach an agreement similar to the one the United States of America concluded with the United Kingdom. This was also announced jointly here yesterday by Donald Trump and Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister. So, we are getting closer to a solution in small steps—at least, that's what I hope.