German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he was "concerned" about rising energy costs as the Middle East war sent oil prices soaring and stocks plunging. "We know that this could have an impact on the German economy," Merz said after oil prices on Monday topped $100 a barrel for the first time since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. AdvertisementAs questions swirl over the length and goals of the war, Merz added that "the threat posed by this regime extends far beyond the country and the region. "Iran is the centre of international terrorism. And this centre must be shut down, and the Americans and Israelis are doing that in their own way."

Source: The Local March 09, 2026 15:07 UTC