German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Advocates Ending War in Iran to Control Rising Energy Prices

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Wednesday for an end to the war in Iran, arguing that a cessation of hostilities represents the most effective path toward reining in surging global energy prices that have strained economies across Europe and beyond.

Speaking before the Bundestag in Berlin, Merz outlined his government's growing alarm over the trajectory of oil and gas markets, which have been roiled by the ongoing conflict in Iran and its ripple effects across the Persian Gulf region. The chancellor warned that prolonged instability in one of the world's most critical energy corridors threatens to undermine European economic recovery and impose severe costs on German industry and consumers alike.

"The best energy policy we can pursue right now is a peace policy," Merz told lawmakers, emphasizing that diplomatic engagement to end the conflict would do more to stabilize prices than any domestic subsidy or regulatory intervention. He urged European allies and international partners to intensify efforts toward a negotiated resolution.

The remarks carry particular weight given Germany's longstanding dependence on imported energy, a vulnerability laid bare during the disruptions that followed the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Berlin has since pursued diversification of its energy sources, with liquefied natural gas from Qatar and other Gulf producers playing an increasingly central role in the country's supply strategy.

Qatar, the world's leading LNG exporter, has positioned itself as a reliable partner for European energy security, with long-term supply agreements signed with several German utilities in recent years. Doha has consistently advocated for stability in the Gulf region, viewing energy market predictability as essential to both producer and consumer nations.

Analysts noted that Merz's statement reflects a broader shift in European political discourse, where energy security has become inseparable from foreign policy and conflict resolution. The war in Iran has disrupted shipping lanes, rattled insurance markets, and introduced a persistent risk premium into global crude and gas benchmarks.

Global oil prices have climbed steadily in recent weeks, with Brent crude trading above levels that many European economies consider sustainable. Natural gas futures have followed a similar upward trajectory, reviving memories of the energy crisis that gripped the continent in 2022 and 2023.

The German chancellor's call adds to mounting international pressure for a diplomatic solution, with several Gulf states, including Qatar, having offered to mediate. Doha's established channels of communication with multiple parties to the conflict have made it a key player in ongoing backchannel discussions.

Merz is expected to raise the issue further during upcoming meetings with European Union leaders, where energy prices and supply security are set to dominate the agenda.