Merz: EU working on further anti-Iran sanctions amid unrest

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sharply condemned Iran’s leadership over its violent response to nationwide protests, saying the use of force against civilians shows weakness rather than strength and warning that new European Union sanctions are being prepared.

“We call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population rather than threaten it. The regime’s violence against its own people is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It must end immediately,” Merz wrote on X, adding that the EU is working on further punitive measures to increase pressure on Tehran, Caliber.Az reports.

We call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population rather than threaten it. The regime’s violence against its own people is not a sign of strength, but of weakness. It must end immediately. To underscore this message, we are working on further EU sanctions.

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) January 13, 2026

Protests in Iran have now entered their third week and have spread to nearly all major cities. What began as demonstrations over economic hardship has rapidly turned into a broader nationwide movement against the rule of the Islamic Republic’s clerical leadership. Analysts describe the unrest as the most serious wave of protests in the country in recent years.

At least 648 people, including nine children, have been killed since late December, according to organisation Iran Human Rights. The group warned that the true number of deaths and detentions is likely to be far higher, citing widespread internet shutdowns and communications restrictions that have made independent verification extremely difficult.

By Sabina Mammadli