Tehran summons European envoys following mass rally backing Iranian protests

Iran has summoned Germany’s ambassador to Tehran following a large rally in Munich by members of the Iranian diaspora backing nationwide protests in Iran.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Germany’s envoy, Axel Dittmann, was called in on February 18 over what officials described as “anti-Iran activities.” The move came after Munich hosted a “Global Day of Action” rally, reportedly attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators, following a call by exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi, Caliber.Az reports via Iran International. 

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it “condemned the anti-Iran actions and activities, particularly the hosting and support of violent and terrorist elements and groups.” 

Additionally, Belgium’s defence minister, Theo Francken, publicly defended his participation in the event after Iran also summoned the Belgian ambassador in Tehran.

In a post on X, Francken said the summoning of Belgium’s envoy was “not the first time” and described it as a “tried-and-tested tactic of a regime that lives on intimidation, blackmail, and hostage diplomacy.”

He said he addressed a crowd of around 250,000 Iranians in Munich in support of what he described as a “peaceful and courageous people” living under “the theocratic yoke of the ayatollahs and mullahs.”

Ik sprak in München voor 250.000 Perzen ter ondersteuning van een vreedzaam en dapper volk dat al zovele jaren onder het theocratische juk van de ayatollahs en mullahs moet leven. Ik betuig die steun al jaren en zal dat altijd blijven doen. Ik overlegde mijn aanwezigheid…

— Theo Francken (@FranckenTheo) February 19, 2026

Francken added that he had coordinated his attendance with Belgium’s Foreign Ministry and reiterated his long-standing support for placing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the European Union’s terrorism list.

In January, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Iranian authorities to halt the use of force against demonstrators. He also said that labeling protesters as “terrorists” to justify violence against them was “unacceptable.”

By Sabina Mammadli