Europe tells Trump Iran is ‘not our war’ | 18 March 2026 | When President Donald Trump asked countries to join a global effort against Iran and deploy ships to prise open the Strait ​of Hormuz, whose near closure has held the global economy in a vice, he was rebuffed by some of America’s closest allies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told German lawmakers on Wednesday he agreed Iran must not be allowed ‌to pose a threat to its neighbours but expressed doubts about the rationale behind the U.S.-Israeli war. “…Therefore, we have declared that as long as the war continues, we will not participate in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, for example, by military means.” Merz’s Defence ⁠Minister Boris Pistorius was just as direct as his boss on Monday: “This is not our war, we have not started it.” Echoing Germany’s stance, French President Emmanuel Macron also said “We are not party to the conflict.”