Merz, Friedrich – War Watch

Araghchi, Abbas | Hezbollah | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Macron, Emmanuel (1977- ) | Meloni, Giorgia (1977- ) | Merz, Friedrich | Peace Process | Ships and Shipping | Social Media | Starmer, Keir | Tehran (Iran) | United States | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Amid Conflicting Messages From Trump and Iran, Hopes for Peace Deal Emerge
ByFarnaz Fassihi, Peter Eavis, Pranav Baskar and Thomas Fuller April 17, 2026

On a day when both Iran and the United States declared the Strait of Hormuz opened, hopes for an agreement rose. But statements from President Trump and Iranian leaders about negotiations were sometimes at odds.

Read More Amid Conflicting Messages From Trump and Iran, Hopes for Peace Deal Emerge
International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Macron, Emmanuel (1977- ) | Meloni, Giorgia (1977- ) | Merz, Friedrich | Mines, Explosive | Ships and Shipping | Starmer, Keir | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Europe Wants to Help Restore Shipping in the Strait. It Just Isn’t Sure How.
ByMark Landler April 17, 2026

Amid conflicting reports about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, European leaders gathered on Friday to coordinate a plan to guard it.

Read More Europe Wants to Help Restore Shipping in the Strait. It Just Isn’t Sure How.
Araghchi, Abbas | Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Canada | Carney, Mark J | Gahr Store, Jonas | Germany | Hegseth, Pete | International Trade and World Market | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Merz, Friedrich | Norway | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Russia | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | Ukraine | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Vows to Block Iran’s Attempt to Shut Down Strait of Hormuz
ByHelene Cooper, Luke Broadwater and Thomas Fuller March 13, 2026March 13, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz were “something we are dealing with.” And about 2,500 Marines were headed to the Middle East to bolster the war effort.

Read More U.S. Vows to Block Iran’s Attempt to Shut Down Strait of Hormuz
Europe | France | Germany | Great Britain | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Macron, Emmanuel (1977- ) | Meloni, Giorgia (1977- ) | Merz, Friedrich | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Europe Didn’t Want War With Iran. But So Far, It Can’t Stay Out of It.
ByMark Landler March 7, 2026March 7, 2026

From London to Rome and beyond, leaders are facing diplomatic headwinds and criticism at home as they take part in a conflict they did not seek.

Read More Europe Didn’t Want War With Iran. But So Far, It Can’t Stay Out of It.
Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Merz, Friedrich | Middle East | Politics and Government | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
ByJim Tankersley, Aaron Boxerman, Christina Goldbaum and Michael Levenson March 3, 2026

With the future of Iran deeply uncertain, President Trump acknowledged that it could end up with a ruler “as bad” as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read More Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Merz, Friedrich | Middle East | Politics and Government | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
ByJim Tankersley, Aaron Boxerman, Christina Goldbaum and Michael Levenson March 3, 2026

With the future of Iran deeply uncertain, President Trump acknowledged that it could end up with a ruler “as bad” as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read More Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Merz, Friedrich | Middle East | Politics and Government | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
ByJim Tankersley, Aaron Boxerman, Christina Goldbaum and Michael Levenson March 3, 2026

With the future of Iran deeply uncertain, President Trump acknowledged that it could end up with a ruler “as bad” as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read More Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Merz, Friedrich | Middle East | Politics and Government | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
ByJim Tankersley, Aaron Boxerman, Christina Goldbaum and Michael Levenson March 3, 2026

With the future of Iran deeply uncertain, President Trump acknowledged that it could end up with a ruler “as bad” as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Read More Iranians Viewed by U.S. as Potential Leaders Died in Strikes, Trump Says
Defense and Military Forces | Europe | European Union | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kallas, Kaja (1977- ) | Merz, Friedrich | Middle East | Politics and Government | Trump, Donald J | von der Leyen, Ursula

Leaders of E.U., Canada and Other Countries React to U.S.-led Attack on Iran
ByJonathan Wolfe February 28, 2026February 28, 2026

Governments around the world urged restraint after the United States and Israel launched a major assault, and Iran vowed retaliation.

Read More Leaders of E.U., Canada and Other Countries React to U.S.-led Attack on Iran
Council on Foreign Relations | Germany | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Machado, Maria Corina | Merz, Friedrich | Mohammed bin Salman (1985- ) | Netanyahu, Benjamin | Ramaphosa, Cyril | Russia | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | Trump, Donald J | Ukraine | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | Zelensky, Volodymyr

How Trump Flexes Power in White House Meetings With Zelensky and Others
ByLuke Broadwater January 20, 2026January 20, 2026

With cameras rolling, President Trump met with more than 40 international leaders in his first year back in office.

Read More How Trump Flexes Power in White House Meetings With Zelensky and Others