German Chancellor: Conflict with Iran cannot be resolved militarily - Sarmad

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Tehran, amid speculation about the possibility of the United States launching new attacks on Iran.

Speaking at the conclusion of his visit to South Korea on Friday, Merz said, “I can only urge all parties to the conflict, as this dispute cannot be resolved militarily. We are working through multiple channels to coordinate and enhance our diplomatic efforts, so that this conflict ends as soon as possible.”

Merz clarified that Germany has a strong economic interest in ending the conflict as quickly as possible, noting that rising energy prices have cost Europe alone more than 100 billion euros.

Shortly before this, media reports indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump held consultations on the next steps in the war with Iran during a rare in-person meeting with a senior military commander.

The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for the Middle East, presented Trump with military options regarding Iran, among other matters, during a meeting at the White House on Thursday. The newspaper described this as a potential indicator that a major U.S. military operation against Iran was nearing implementation.

Speculation has persisted for some time regarding the possibility of the United States and Israel launching new attacks on Iran following the upcoming U.S. midterm congressional elections, scheduled for next Tuesday.

However, U.S. media recently reported that the Trump administration and regional mediators have intensified efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Iran, with Vice President J.D. Vance playing a pivotal role in these initiatives.