German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint in military operations against Iran, even as he expressed conditional support for Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, according to a German government source.

Merz Backs Targeted Strikes, Calls for Restraint

During a phone call Wednesday evening, Chancellor Merz emphasized that while Germany supports Israel’s right to act against nuclear threats, it must also prioritize diplomatic avenues. “Germany backs Israel’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program in principle,” the source told Reuters, “but Merz urged moderation and a push for diplomacy.”

The call comes amid intense Israeli bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear targets, raising international concern over further regional escalation.

Germany to Host Emergency Nuclear Talks

In a bid to defuse tensions, Germany will host a high-level meeting in Geneva on Friday involving its European partners and Iran’s foreign minister. Berlin hopes to extract concrete assurances from Tehran that its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful.

“The goal is to get assurances from Iran that its nuclear programme is used solely for civilian purposes,” the German official said.

Diverging Narratives on Nuclear Intentions

Israel has framed its ongoing military campaign as a preemptive strike against Iran’s potential to build a nuclear weapon. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is entirely civilian, with no military dimension.

The planned Geneva talks may serve as a critical junction in testing Tehran’s willingness to re-engage diplomatically—and in slowing a conflict that has already drawn in major powers and raised the risk of broader war.