German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Tuesday that Israel’s strikes on Iran may lead to U.S. military involvement if Tehran refuses to resume nuclear talks.
Israel’s military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile sites began Friday. According to reports, since the outset of the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to support the operation.
“The Israeli army can’t do it alone. It lacks the necessary weapons. But the Americans have them,” Merz told German broadcaster ZDF.
Officials noted that Israel lacks the weapons and aircraft capable of striking Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow uranium facility. Such an attack would require a U.S. B-2 bomber equipped with a 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb.
Merz told the Axel Springer network that while the United States has not made a final decision, discussions are already underway. “It now depends very much on how far the mullah regime is prepared to return to the negotiating table,” he said.
The recent Israeli strikes reportedly killed over 450 people in Iran. In response, Iran launched missile attacks that killed 24 and injured more than 500.
