OAN Staff Addie Davis
6:51 PM – Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly confirmed that both him and Trump are on the “same page” regarding regime change in Iran.
The meeting took place just days after the start of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign that began on February 28th. The operation was launched following the assassination of Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and intensive strikes on the country’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
“We are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away, and we will talk about the day after,” Merz said.
During the meeting, Merz also called for a swift conclusion to the military operations in Iran, warning that a prolonged conflict is severely straining European economies through soaring oil and natural gas prices.
He emphasized that Germany’s support for the mission is tied to the hope of establishing a stable, peaceful successor government as quickly as possible to alleviate these financial pressures.
President Trump praised Merz as an “excellent leader,” contrasting their productive dynamic with the friction he experienced with former Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Trump also highlighted the strong trade relationship between the two nations, noting that while recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have complicated tariff structures, he remains committed to a “blanket deal” and a unified economic front with Germany.
“We’ll obviously be talking a little bit about Iran today. And he’s been helping us out, [he’s] been very nice actually,” Trump added.
According to reports from CBS 19 News and other major outlets, Merz is the first foreign head of government to meet with President Trump since the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Although the summit was initially intended to address Ukraine’s security and the stabilization of transatlantic trade, the rapid escalation of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Iran fundamentally shifted the focus of the bilateral talks.
Merz reiterated once more that the economic strain of the conflict — specifically the surge in energy prices — underscores the need for a swift conclusion to the war and a finalized trade agreement to protect the Eurozone’s stability.
Meanwhile, Trump and Merz’s meeting follows UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statements to Parliament on Monday. “France and Germany are also prepared to enable U.S. action to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones from source,” Starmer stated at the time.
Additionally, the day before, Starmer had announced that he was granting permission to the United States if they so wish to use UK bases for Iranian missions.
French President Emmanuel Macron similarly confirmed on Tuesday, among other defense measures, that he would be sending the nation’s only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean Sea, Ynet Global reported. The carrier assisted U.S. operations in Afghanistan in 2001 and the subsequent U.S.-led campaign in Syria and Iraq in 2015.
France is reportedly seeking to help build a coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation along critical shipping routes. “History never mourns those who oppress their people, and none will be missed,” Macron added.
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