The spat reflects diverging views between the Trump administration and its European NATO allies on Iran and other issues, ​including the Ukraine conflict.

“From my perspective, my personal relationship with the ​US President remains good. I simply had doubts from the ⁠start about what was begun with the war in Iran. That is ​why I have made that clear,” Merz told reporters.

“In Germany and Europe, we are ​suffering from the consequences, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has a direct impact on our energy supply and a huge impact on our economic performance,” ​said Merz, adding that Washington and Berlin were speaking to each other.

On ​Tuesday, Trump crtiticised Merz over his stance, saying in a social media post that the German chancellor thought ‌it ⁠was “OK” for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and that he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Merz has said Iran must not have a nuclear weapon.

Trump’s comments followed a rebuke to Washington from Merz on Monday, when he said ​Iran’s leadership was “humiliating” ​the United States ⁠by getting US officials to travel to Pakistan for peace talks and then leaving them without results.

Merz also said ​he did not see what exit strategy the US was ​pursuing.

Trump ⁠has harshly criticised NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained virtually shut since early March, causing market ⁠turmoil ​and unprecedented disruption in energy supplies.

Despite a ceasefire ​in the US-Israeli war with Iran, the conflict is deadlocked as both sides seek a formal end ​to the fighting.