Merz and Trump exchange barbs over Iran comments

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump have traded public criticism over Iran. Merz had said that Iran was 'humiliating' the US in nuclear talks, prompting Trump to respond that Merz 'doesn't know what he’s talking about.' Despite the exchange, Merz insists his personal relationship with Trump remains 'unchanged good.'

The back-and-forth highlights tensions between the allies over how to handle Iran. Merz also noted that 'nobody can guarantee anything' when it comes to security, while Trump’s team seized on the remarks to question the chancellor’s judgment. The spat has not escalated into a broader diplomatic rift, but it underscores differing approaches to the Iran issue.