Germany cannot underwrite the dirty work: Iran slams Chancellor Merz hypocrisy

Iran has censured German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his “knowingly distorted” rhetoric regarding the US-Israeli war of aggression, saying Berlin lacks the moral courage to condemn Western atrocities while attempting to pose as a global “moral instructor.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Wednesday dismantled the recent remarks by Merz, which referenced Iran’s supposed "war," its "military nuclear program," and its regional "proxies."

Baqaei dismissed these labels as deliberate fabrication designed to cover up the crimes of the aggressors.

"It was the US and the Israeli regime—not Iran—that launched a war of aggression, and Germany failed to show even the minimum moral courage required to deplore that," Baqaei stated, using the term "USrael" to highlight the seamless coordination and shared culpability between Washington and Tel Aviv.

He rejected the Western designation of regional resistance movements as mere "proxies."

"Those Berlin labels 'proxies' are independent actors with their own clear causes and calculations. They are fighting for self-determination, freedom, and dignity against occupation, aggression, and subjugation," Baqaei explained, referring to the Axis of Resistance factions across West Asia.

The Iranian official reiterated that Tehran possesses no "military" nuclear program, describing the allegation as an "Israeli-fabricated 'big lie'" that is routinely regurgitated by Tel Aviv's apologists in European capitals to justify acts of war.

Germany’s ‘guilt complex’

The Iranian diplomat took direct aim at Germany’s historical posture, suggesting that Berlin’s foreign policy is driven by a misplaced "guilt complex" that leads it to blindly appease bullies and enable war crimes.

"Our region should not have to pay the price for Germany’s guilt complex or its habit of appeasement vis-a-vis bullies," Baqaei said. "Germany cannot underwrite the 'dirty work' and then pose as a champion of peace and a moral instructor."

The rebuke from Tehran follows a series of statements by Merz, who has vocally backed the US-Israeli war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.

Since taking office, Merz has framed the devastating bombardment of Iranian infrastructure as a necessary measure to "neutralize regional threats" and protect Israel, actively echoing Tel Aviv's justifications for the bloodshed.

During recent addresses, Merz has justified the ongoing naval blockade and airstrikes while notably refusing to condemn the assassination of Iranian leaders or the targeting of civilian sites.

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Instead, he has repeatedly urged Tehran to dismantle its regional alliances and halt its nuclear enrichment, effectively providing diplomatic cover for the aggressors.

The current war, which Tehran refers to as the Third Imposed War, erupted on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched a massive, unprovoked military offensive against Iran.

The initial 40-day war of aggression resulted in the assassination of the late Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the deaths of thousands of Iranian civilians, including the massacre of schoolchildren in Minab.

Despite the immense destruction and an economic siege, the Iranian Armed Forces and the Axis of Resistance have maintained a steadfast defense.

By executing retaliatory strikes against US bases, enforcing a counter-blockade in the Red Sea, and securing the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran and its allies have effectively neutralized the aggressors' strategic objectives, leading to 200 consecutive nights of victorious street rallies across Iran.

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