German Chancellor Merz Calls for Rapid Regime Change in Iran; Erdogan Warns Tehran Again

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for rapid regime change in Iran, stating: "The sooner the Mullah regime is stopped, the sooner this war will end." Merz added: "Iran is the center of international terrorism and this center must be shut down — the Americans and Israelis are doing this in their own way." He also warned that the continuation of this war could have "consequences" for Germany's economy, the largest in Europe, and emphasized that the German government is working to increase its energy policy independence. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again warned Tehran to refrain from taking "provocative steps."