German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said Europe wanted to work to keep the Nato alliance functioning, despite differences with the United States that the Iran war has exposed, Reuters reports.

“We are really willing to keep this alliance alive for the future,” Merz said at a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

He also said Sweden and Finland had strengthened the European pillar of the alliance.

“We know that there are some differences. We know that we are seeing challenges, all of us, but our final goal is to bring this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce nuclear weapons,” Merz said.

“And this goal is a common goal between America and Europe.”