FRANKFURT, June 22 (Reuters) - The international community must seek a political solution on Iran, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had aborted a military strike to retaliate against Tehran's downing of a U.S. drone.

Speaking at an annual gathering of Protestant churches, Merkel also said the Iran issue would be discussed at next week's meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 leading economies in Japan, at least at a bilateral level.

"There has to be a political solution (on Iran) and that is what we are working on," Merkel said.

a(Reporting by Andreas Rinke Writing by Tom Sims Editing by Gareth Jones)