On March 3, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with President Trump at the White House, discussing Iran’s nuclear program and supporting U.S.-led strikes against Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.

On March 3, 2026, President Donald Trump hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, marking Merz’s first meeting with Trump since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The visit, scheduled before the strikes, focused on shared concerns over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs, with Merz expressing understanding of the military action while cautioning against assumptions that external pressure would lead to internal change in Iran. Germany, along with France and the UK, confirmed it did not participate in the strikes but supported defensive measures to neutralize Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. The leaders reaffirmed their opposition to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and called for an end to retaliatory attacks.