Merz says he was 'not surprised' by outcome of US-Iran talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he did not expect the US-Iran talks held in Pakistan over the weekend to produce positive results.

"I wasn't surprised by the decision to break off the talks in Islamabad," Merz said in Berlin on Monday.

"From the outset, I didn't get the impression that they were really well prepared," Merz added, without providing further details.

Merz said he expects further attempts to end the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 to be "a lengthy process," adding that Berlin was in touch with the parties to the conflict.

"This will remain a long-lasting process, and we will continue to feel the consequences of this war for a long time to come, even after it is over," said Merz.

His administration is "preparing for the fact that we will see a significant strain on the German economy over a prolonged period, and consequently a significant strain on private households as well," the chancellor said.

Berlin is looking to "do everything in our power to maintain and improve the competitiveness of the German economy, and also to ease the situation for private households," Merz said, but conceded that this was "not easy."

"We won’t be able to do everything. We cannot solve every crisis in the world with money from Germany."