Merz raises 'the day after' Iran at White House — global alarm over absence of post-war plan

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened his White House meeting with President Trump by raising the question of 'the day after' in Iran — what would happen to the country after the military campaign ends. 'We will talk about the day after, and what would happen if they are out,' Merz told reporters, a statement that was a sign of the nervousness around the world about the seeming lack of a clear US plan for post-war Iran. The concern is particularly acute given that Trump himself acknowledged most likely Iranian successors have been killed, and that a 'third wave' of potential successors may also be dead. Merz expressed hope the war would end 'as soon as possible' due to economic damage from oil prices. The ISW assessed that Iran's strategy is to impose sufficient costs to force a ceasefire before the US-Israel campaign achieves regime change. The lack of a post-war plan aligns with broader historical patterns — the US had no plan for post-Saddam Iraq in 2003. The 'day after' question is further complicated by the bombings of the Assembly of Experts' offices in Qom and Tehran, making the constitutional succession process nearly impossible. Iran's constitution requires the 86-member Assembly of Experts to convene and select a new supreme leader — but the assembly's capacity to meet safely is severely compromised.