Chancellor Merz says his relationship with President Trump remains good despite differences on Iran

Chancellor Merz when received by President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. (Wikmedia Commons/Official White House/Daniel Torok)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday his relationship with US President Donald Trump remained good despite a dispute over the Iran war, reiterating his concerns about the economic impact of the conflict.

The dispute reflects a difference of opinion between the Trump administration and European NATO allies on Iran and other issues, including the Ukraine conflict.

"From my perspective, my personal relationship with the US President remains good. I just had doubts from the beginning about what had started with the war in Iran. That's why I've explained it," said Chancellor Merz as reported by Al Arabiya from Reuters (29/4).

"In Germany and Europe, we suffer the consequences, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has a direct impact on our energy supply and has a major impact on our economic performance," Chancellor Merz said, adding that Washington and Berlin are talking to each other.

Earlier, President Trump on Tuesday criticized Chancellor Merz for his stance, saying in a social media post that the German Chancellor thought it was "okay" for Iran to have nuclear weapons and that he didn't know what he was talking about.

Chancellor Merz had previously said Iran should not have nuclear weapons.

President Trump's comments followed a rebuke to Washington from Chancellor Merz on Monday, when he said Iran's leadership "humiliated" the United States by asking US officials to travel to Pakistan for peace talks and then leaving them without results.

Chancellor Merz also said he did not see what exit strategy the Uncle Sam's country was pursuing.

President Trump has lashed out at NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained closed since early March, causing market chaos and unprecedented energy supply disruptions.

Despite a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran, the conflict is at an impasse as both sides seek to formally end the fighting.