"This is not a NATO war. NATO is a defensive alliance," government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told reporters in Berlin. "The German government must also clearly assess the situation on Alliance territory and its own position on participation in this war," he added.
He stressed that an escalation of the conflict would endanger regional partners. "Expanding combat operations would carry great risks for other partners in the Middle East and the Gulf," he said. The German government has repeatedly stated that it would not participate in a US war against Iran.