War in the Middle East: Chancellor's Defense of Actions Against Iran's "Militant Regime"
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Counters action against Iran's perceived 'Terrorist Government' - Avenues for Counteraction Against Iran's Alleged Terrorist Government
Chief of Staff Thorsten Frei has defended Chancellor Friedrich Merz's support for Israel's attacks on Iran. "What the Chancellor meant with his words was that it's crucial for us all that a militant regime like the Iranian theocracy doesn't obtain nuclear weapons," Frei stated to the German Press Agency.
It's not just about nukes. "Even Iran's rocket tech can reach far-reaching targets, including parts of Europe. So, we've got to acknowledge that it's not a matter solely for Israel," said Frei.
CDU chairman Merz had commented on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada about Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and leadership personnel: "That's the dirty work Israel is processing for us all." The reporter had already used the term "dirty work" in her question. Merz expressed respect for the Israeli army or government's "courage to do that." However, his statement led to criticisms, not only for his choice of words but also for endorsing the attacks.
Frei: Legal analysis not possible yet
Whether these attacks comply with international law, Frei refrained from assessing. "We simply don't have the information required to make a comprehensive legal evaluation concerning this matter as of yet," he added. But the fact remains that Israel acted due to substantial threats from Iran. The Iranian regime seeks Israel's destruction, according to Frei, and this serves as the basis for evaluating the situation.
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Frei emphasized that Germany must always work to ensure that Israel can secure itself, even after Israeli attacks on Iran. "And the federal government has taken on this responsibility in the past and continues to do so today and in the future," he said.
The federal government has approved the delivery of weapons and other military equipment to Israel in previous years, although it's a crisis area - an exception only made for Ukraine. The current federal government has also authorized weapon exports valued at around four million euros to Israel within the first five weeks of its term, according to the Ministry of Economics following a request from the Left Party. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, when the red-green minority government approved weapon deliveries worth 28 million euros to Israel, this is a modest amount.
Frei claimed, however, that this is not comparable. "Comparing smaller time periods does not accurately depict the situation," and stated that the stance toward Israel has not changed through the federal government, according to Frei to dpa.
- Thorsten Frei
- Iran
- Friedrich Merz
- Israel
- Middle East
- Federal Government
- CDU
- Berlin
- German Press Agency
- Europe
- G7 Summit
- Canada
- ZDF
Additional Insights:
International legal experts and UN officials view Israel's strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, military infrastructure, and civilians as flagrant violations of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. These attacks undermine the non-proliferation regime and set a precedent for peaceful nuclear programs. While some argue Israel's actions may be justified as self-defense, this view lacks broad international acceptance. European interests and Germany's official stance toward these matters are not explicitly mentioned in the available sources, but historically, European countries and Germany have emphasized adherence to international law, diplomacy, and multilateralism.
- Thorsten Frei, when asked about the legality of Israel's actions against Iran, stated that a comprehensive legal evaluation cannot be made due to a lack of required information.
- The federal government's stance towards Israel has not changed, according to Thorsten Frei, despite approving the delivery of weapons and other military equipment to Israel in previous years, as well as authorizing weapon exports to Israel within the first five weeks of the current term.
