German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly supported the United States for its strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, expressing a more categorical position than other European allies.

“There is no reason to criticize what America did over the weekend. Yes, it is not without risk. But leaving things as they are was also not an option,” Merz said in a speech to the Federation of German Industries.

Describing Iran as a “terrorist regime,” he said that “Israel has been attacked by Iran for years, if not decades, including through the financing of Hamas, Hezbollah, militias in Iraq and many other places around the world.”

The US strikes came after Israel launched large-scale attacks on June 13 targeting Iran's missile and nuclear facilities, as well as military leaders and security services.

Iran's enrichment of uranium for decades has caused tension in relations with the West and Israel, which fear that the process is aimed at creating an atomic bomb. Tehran denies this accusation, AFP reported.

Although France expressed “concern” about the US strikes, Merz said they were justified by “evidence that Iran (continues) to advance in the development of nuclear weapons.”

“No one needs bunkered facilities 100 meters underground to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes,” he said.

Last week, Merz also expressed strong support for Israel's campaign against Iran. He described it as “the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us.”

On June 22, the German chancellor called on Iran to “immediately start negotiations with the US and Israel and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict,” his spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

In a joint statement with the leaders of France and the UK, Merz also called on Tehran “not to take any further actions that could destabilize the region.”

“We call on Iran to start negotiations leading to an agreement that addresses all concerns related to its nuclear program,” the leaders' statement said. | BGNES