German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he was "concerned" about rising energy costs as the Middle East war sent oil prices soaring and stocks plunging.
"We know that this could have an impact on the German economy," Merz said after oil prices on Monday topped $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed the price spike, a politically sensitive issue in the United States, as a "small price to pay" for removing what he called the threat of Iran's nuclear programme.
Merz reiterated his strong criticism of Iran, labelling it "the centre of international terrorism", and voiced support for the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic, in which Berlin is not taking part.
The German chancellor again called for a swift change of government in Iran, stating that "the sooner the mullah regime comes to an end, the sooner this war will be over.
"It is solely up to this regime and the so-called Revolutionary Guards to cease hostilities," he said. "Until that happens, I assume that Israel and America will continue their defence against this regime."
As questions swirl over the length and goals of the war, Merz added that "the threat posed by this regime extends far beyond the country and the region.
"You know that Iran is supporting Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, that Iran is largely responsible for the terror of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Huthis," he said.
"Iran is the centre of international terrorism. And this centre must be shut down, and the Americans and Israelis are doing that in their own way."
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