During his visit to India, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that the last days and weeks await the Iranian regime, as it maintains its power only by force. Facing mass protests, Iranian authorities are cracking down and blocking communications in the country.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expects the current government to fall soon due to mass protests in Iran. Merz said this on Tuesday during a visit to India, TASR reports, according to a report by the DPA agency.
“If the regime can only hold on to power through violence, then it is basically over. I think we are now witnessing the last days and weeks of this regime,” he said of the government in Iran during a visit to the Indian city of Bangalore.
Criticism of violence in Iran
Even on Monday, the German chancellor condemned the “disproportionate and brutal violence” of the Iranian security forces against the demonstrators in Iran and said that it was a sign of weakness. He highlighted the courage of the demonstrators, who, according to him, peacefully protested for freedom in their country, which they have the right to do.
The unrest in Iran erupted on December 28 after traders in Tehran staged a protest against rising prices and the fall of the local currency, the rial, which sparked similar protests in other cities. The security forces are acting harshly against the demonstrators – according to the Norwegian non-governmental organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), the protests have already claimed at least 648 victims. Their actual number of victims may be even higher.
Internet blocking
Authorities there blocked the country’s internet and international calls last Thursday (January 8) as the protests escalated. According to the activists, the internet has been blocked for more than 108 hours, writes the AFP agency on Tuesday.
