Germany tells US, Israel 'force alone' won't resolve conflicts

"We must emphasise this repeatedly to our American and Israeli friends, and we will continue to do so," Pistorius told the German parliament.

"History teaches us that starting wars is much easier than ending them," Pistorius said.

"This means that a robust exit strategy is needed," he said, adding: "I do not see one at present."

After visiting US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that he wanted to see an end to the war triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran "as soon as possible".

"We are hoping that the Israeli and the American army are doing the right things to bring this to an end and to have, really, a new government in place that is coming back to peace and freedom," Merz said.

But Merz, who had criticised Iran's ruling clerics sharply over their deadly crackdown on protests in January, also said that he and Trump "are on the same page in terms of getting this terrible regime in Tehran away".