German Chancellor Merz says Iranians are outplaying US, mocks Trump over ‘failed’ Tehran talks | World News

2 min readNew DelhiApr 28, 2026 10:48 AM German Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned US President Donald Trump over his unsteady negotiations with Iran. He said Tehran has surpassed the Trump adminration and exposed a lack of strategic direction the US. Germany is an ally in the NATO, of which the US, too, is a partner.
The US is unhappy with its NATO allies for not aligning themselves with the
While visiting Carolus-Magnus-Gymnasium in Marsberg as part of the annual EU Project Day in schools, Merz said the United States was being humiliated Iran’s leadership after indirect talks between US and Tehran in Islamabad without any breakthrough. Trump had unexpectedly cancelled a planned visit US negotiators, days after an earlier round led Vice President JD Vance ended in stalemate.
“The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating… An entire nation is being humiliated the Iranian leadership, especially these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” Merz said. The German Chancellor also said “I hope that this ends as quickly as possible”.
According to an Associated Press report, Merz also questioned US’s broader strategy in the ongoing conflict, warning that entering a war without a clear exit plan was a dangerous make. “The problem with conflicts like these is always the same: It’s not just about getting in. You also have to get out,” he said.
This criticism comes after Iran seeks to reshape negotiations proposing a limited agreement focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while deferring controversial issues such as its nuclear programme, ballic missiles and sanctions. The proposal has been met with scepticism in US and among other mediators. However, such agreement would allow Iran to retain its 440 kg stockpile of highly enriched uranium which is an amount sufficient to produce around a dozen nuclear warheads.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu signalled the possibility of renewed Israeli military operations in Lebanon, warning that Hezbollah still poses a serious threat through its stockpile of 122mm rockets and drones, The Guardian reported. In a statement released his office, Netanyahu said, “This demands a combination of operational and technological activity.”
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