Merz predicts possible collapse of Iran’s clerical regime amid mass protests

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Iran’s ruling clerical establishment could collapse in the near future as mass protests continue across the country.

Speaking during a visit to the Indian city of Bangalore, Merz said that a government which can maintain power only through violence is effectively at its end, adding that he believes the current developments could represent the final days or weeks of the Iranian regime, Caliber.Az reports. 

The chancellor sharply criticised the actions of the Iranian authorities, describing the dispersal of peaceful demonstrations as "disproportionate and brutal." He urged Iran’s leadership to protect its own citizens rather than intimidate them, and praised the courage of people who have taken to the streets peacefully to demand greater freedom.

Protests in Iran have been ongoing for more than two weeks and have spread to nearly all major cities. What began as demonstrations over economic hardship quickly evolved into a nationwide movement opposing the rule of the Ayatollahs. Analysts have described the unrest as the largest wave of protests in the country in recent years.

Human rights groups report that at least 648 people, including nine children, have been killed since the end of December. The organisation Iran Human Rights has warned that the real number of deaths and detentions is likely to be significantly higher, noting that widespread internet and communications restrictions have made independent verification difficult.

By Sabina Mammadli