German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday he had a “good” phone call with President Donald Trump and fully backed the U.S. position on Iran, just days after Trump publicly ripped him as “totally ineffective” and told him to stop interfering.
In a pair of posts on X, Merz said the two leaders agreed that Iran must immediately return to the negotiating table, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and give up any ambitions for nuclear weapons.
“I had a good phone call with President Donald Trump on his way back from China,” Merz wrote. “We agree: Iran must come to the negotiating table now. It must open the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.”
He added that the pair also discussed efforts toward a peaceful solution in Ukraine and coordinated ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara in July. “The U.S. and Germany are strong partners in a strong NATO,” Merz said.
Trump Slams German Chancellor
The quick turnaround comes after a sharp public clash late last month. Trump unloaded on Merz on Truth Social after the German leader criticized the U.S. approach to the Iran conflict.
“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!” Trump wrote.
The Trump post followed Merz’s comments that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran and lacked a clear exit strategy from the fighting. Trump also floated pulling U.S. troops from Germany and raising tariffs on European cars.
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Germany has felt real pain from the Iran conflict as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have driven up global energy prices, hitting Europe’s economy hard.
Germany, already wrestling with high energy costs after moving away from Russian gas, has watched fuel prices climb and factories face pressure.
Merz’s office did not release a full readout of the call, but the public statement marked a clear shift in tone.
Upcoming NATO Summit
Just weeks ago, Merz had questioned Washington’s handling of the crisis. On Friday, May 15, he lined up behind Trump’s core demands on Iran.
Germany depends on the U.S. for security through NATO and cannot afford a lasting rift with Washington, especially with the upcoming NATO summit.
High energy prices are also hurting German voters at a time when Merz’s government is already dealing with immigration challenges and sluggish economic growth.
Trump’s team has not yet commented publicly on the call. But the president has repeatedly said the military action against Iran’s nuclear program made the world safer, including for Germany and other allies.
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Merz came into office promising a strong transatlantic partnership while also seeking to demonstrate independence in foreign policy.
The rapid shift from public criticism to public alignment shows the limits of that approach when core U.S. interests are on the line.
Merz himself has tried to downplay the earlier spat in recent days, saying differences with allies are normal but shared goals matter more.
Effects of Iran-U.S. War
The Iran conflict, now in its third month, has reconfigured global energy flows and alliances.
Oil tankers have been forced to reroute at a higher cost due to a partial blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of inflation in Europe and other parts of the World.
U.S. and Israeli strikes damaged key Iranian nuclear sites, but Tehran has refused to fully reopen the vital waterway.
Merz’s statement signals Europe’s biggest economy is now pushing the same line as Washington: Iran must back down on both nuclear weapons and the strait.
Iran has shown no sign of giving in quickly, and talks have been difficult. But for now, the public truce between Trump and Merz gives both sides room to claim progress.
