Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has announced that his country will not participate in the ongoing war against Iran led by the United States and Israel. In an interview with German media outlet RND, Klingbeil expressed serious doubts about the international legal legitimacy of the conflict. He stated clearly that it is not Germany’s war and warned that the world is heading toward a situation without rules.
Klingbeil emphasized that Germany does not want to live in a world governed solely by the law of the powerful. His remarks directly contradict the position of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who had earlier expressed support for the US and Israeli objectives concerning Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, Tehran’s threats toward Israel, and its backing of terrorism and proxy groups.
The divergence between the two leaders highlights internal differences within Germany’s leadership over how to respond to the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.