German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed increasing worry in Europe about the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran, warning of a "dangerous escalation" and the lack of a unified plan to resolve it.

Merz's comments, which echoed remarks he made at the end of last week, came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the war could end "soon" ​but also said the U.S. could escalate its attacks if Iran ​sought to block tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, The Caspian Post reports, citing Reuters.

Merz ⁠said that Germany shared "many of the goals" of the U.S. and Israeli ​operation, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei, but he said questions ​were arising with each day that passed, amid signs of a dangerous escalation.

"We are particularly concerned that there is clearly no joint plan for bringing this war to ​a swift and convincing end," Merz said at a joint press conference ​in Berlin with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. "We have no interest in a war ‌without ⁠end. We have no interest in the dissolution of Iran's territorial integrity, statehood or economic viability," he added.

The world needed "a stable, viable Iran as part of a regional peace and security order in which neither Israel nor other ​partners are threatened," ​he said. The remarks ⁠reflect the concern in Europe at the economic damage inflicted by any prolonged closure of the Strait of ​Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil ​passes, as ⁠well as by fears of the disorder that would follow a breakdown in Iran's state institutions.

"A scenario such as we have seen in Libya, Iraq ⁠or other ​countries in the region would also harm ​us all," he said. "This affects our security, our energy supply and possibly also the situation ​surrounding migration."