US EditionEuropean Leaders Reject U.S. Call to Join Iran Conflict
European leaders oppose joining U.S.-Israeli naval efforts amid high public resistance; 58% of Germans and 68% of Spaniards oppose the conflict, citing lack of consultation and unclear goals.
- On March 18, 2026, reporting from Berlin and Paris shows European leaders rejected direct involvement in U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran and rebuffed President Donald Trump's call to deploy ships to pry open the Strait of Hormuz.
- Public opinion trends show 68% of Spaniards and 58% of Germans opposed the strikes, while Britons opposed them by 49% to 28%.
- Britain is drafting an alternative plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil is transported, while France consults European, Asian including India and Gulf Arab states on warship escorts.
- Diplomatic fallout included sharp comments from Germany's leaders, with Merz and Pistorius saying 'this is not our war' and criticizing U.S. plans on Wednesday.
- EU officials urged calm, and Maria Jose Montero, Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, said, 'We are certainly not going to be anybody's vassals, we won't tolerate any threats and we'll defend our values.
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European leaders harden stance against Trump’s ‘pointless’ war
Leaders from the European Union stepped up criticism of Donald Trump’s war in Iran in a clear indication they don’t plan to heed the U.S. president’s demand for allies to help America’s military secure the Strait of Hormuz while fighting continues.
The US President puts pressure on his allies to help in the conflict in the Middle East. They do not want to participate in the Iran war – but the embassies are sometimes ambiguous.
Various European leaders are trying to maneuver, with varying degrees of success, in the wake of the Iran war. Trump is very disappointed that he has not received help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and has expressed this. But some say that several European leaders believe that strength should be shown, not necessarily surrender, in a war they did not start.
Europe tells Trump Iran is ‘not our war’
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 e…
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