German Chancellor directly criticizes Trump over failure to negotiate with Iran
President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finland's President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 18, 2025. REUTERS/Alexander Drago

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Monday the United States is being "humiliated" by Iran and risks becoming trapped in a prolonged conflict similar to Afghanistan and Iraq.

Merz criticized the lack of a convincing American negotiating strategy, noting Iran is negotiating skillfully while the U.S. has no clear exit plan. Adding, Iran's Revolutionary Guards are humiliating an entire nation, according to reporting by DW.

Trump canceled a planned trip by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Pakistan for ceasefire negotiations after previous talks failed, according to Common Dreams. Nearly two months of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have killed over 3,400 people, including 2,100 civilians. Lebanon's death toll from Israeli bombing has exceeded 2,500.

The Iranian Red Crescent has even submitted evidence of U.S. and Israeli war crimes to the International Criminal Court.

Merz stated the conflict costs Germany economically and advocated greater European unity, suggesting a united Europe could match U.S. strength.

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