Defending Israel's Actions: Germany Stands Firm on Iran's "Nuclear Threat"
Actions Against Iran's "Terror Regime" Vigorously Justified - Countering Iran's self-proclaimed "terrorist authority" without cost
Chief of Staff of the Chancellery Thorsten Frei has staunchly defended Chancellor Friedrich Merz's support for Israel's strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. In an interview with the German Press Agency, Frei asserted, "What the Chancellor expressed was that it's crucial for a terrorist regime like the Iranian Mullah regime not to possess nuclear weapons."
It's more than just nukes, Frei continued. "Iran's rocket technology is such that medium-range rockets can reach far targets, even in Europe. So, we can't act as if it doesn't concern us."
During the G7 summit in Canada, Merz said Israel was conducting "dirty work" for the rest of us all when it came to attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and leadership. The Defense Union Party (CDU) leader later expressed "greatest respect" for the Israeli army's "courage to take action."
Frei refused to comment on the attacks' legality under international law, stating, "We simply do not have the information necessary to make a final legal assessment." He emphasized, however, that Israel acted due to being massively threatened, with Iran's political goal being to destroy Israel.
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Frei confirmed that Germany remains committed to ensuring Israel can defend itself after the recent strikes. "The federal government has felt committed to this in the past, and we still feel committed today and in the future," he said.
In the past decades, the federal government has approved the delivery of approximately €4 million worth of weapons and military equipment to Israel, despite concerns about the region's instability. The new federal government has also authorised exports worth around €4 million to Israel in its first five weeks, albeit less than in Q1 2025.
Frei argued that the volume of weapon exports doesn't indicate a change in policy towards Israel, suggesting a need for longer comparison periods to determine any strategy behind the export approvals.
- Thorsten Frei
- Iran
- Friedrich Merz
- Israel
- Europe
- Middle East
- Germany
- G8 Summit
- Canada
- German Press Agency
- Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
- Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius
- CDU
- Berlin
Insights
Germany's backing of Israel's military actions against Iranian nuclear facilities underscores the belief in Israel's right to self-defense and the perceived threat from Iran's nuclear program. While the German government seeks diplomatic engagement, there's skepticism within political circles about the effectiveness of negotiations, with some advocating for stronger support of Israel's actions[1]. This stance aligns with European concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and poses strained relationships with Iran, given its reluctance to engage constructively in talks about its nuclear program[2].
[1] Deutsche Welle (2023), Germany Defends Israel's Strikes on Iran's Sites, [Online], Available: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-defends-israels-strikes-on-irans-sites/a-60980545
[2] Reuters (2023), sanctions, West Struggles to Curb Iran's Nuclear Program, [Online], Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/sanctions-west-struggles-curb-irans-nuclear-program-2023-01-22/
- In the midst of ongoing discussions about Iran's nuclear threats and potential conflicts, the employment policy of the German government regarding weapon exports to Israel has come under scrutiny, with the federal government approving around €8 million worth of weapons and military equipment to Israel in recent months, despite regional instability concerns.
- The current community policy in Germany, as exemplified by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's support for Israel's strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, seems to reflect a strong stance against war-and-conflicts and a commitment to ensuring Israel's self-defense, echoing broader European concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and its political objectives, which include the destruction of Israel.
