Tehran accuses Germany of meddling in internal affairs after Merz comments on protests

Iran has summoned Germany’s ambassador in Tehran, Axel Dittmann, to the Foreign Ministry in response to what officials described as “interventionist and meaningless” comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. 

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Alireza Yousefi, Director General of the Western Europe Department, sharply condemned Merz’s remarks, calling them “irresponsible interference in Iran’s internal affairs.” He added that the German chancellor has no moral authority to lecture Iranians on human rights.

The summons followed comments Merz made in mid-January, when he criticised the actions of Iranian security forces against protesters and suggested that the Iranian leadership was approaching its downfall.

“If a regime can hold on to power only through violence, then it is effectively doomed,” Friedrich Merz said at the time.

In addition, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced the European Union’s decision to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on its list of terrorist organisations. Officials in Tehran described the step as a “strategic mistake” by the EU.

Iranian human rights activists have reported that thousands — and possibly tens of thousands — of people were killed during the violent suppression of mass demonstrations across the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova