German president slams Trump’s Iran war as illegal
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s war with Iran as a violation of international law and warned it could cause a transatlantic rupture comparable to Germany’s break with Russia.
- Steinmeier criticized Trump for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and described the conflict as a politically disastrous and avoidable mistake aimed at stopping Iran’s nuclear development.
- The president’s sharp remarks add pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has grown more critical of the war and its implications for European security but has not declared it illegal.
- Steinmeier compared the current U.S.-Europe rift under Trump to Germany’s post-2022 estrangement from Russia, emphasizing that transatlantic relations may not return to their previous state.
- He called for Germany to pursue greater independence from the U.S. in defense and technology to safeguard its sovereignty and reduce vulnerability to foreign political interference.
