German Chancellor: The Authority in Iran Is Living Its "Last Days and Weeks"

SadaNews - On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the Iranian regime is experiencing its "last days and weeks" amid accusations that the Iranian authorities are using violence to suppress widespread protests in the country.

He expressed in statements aired by German television during a visit to Bangalore in southern India that "when a regime can only maintain power through violence, it is practically dying."

The German Chancellor added: "I believe we are witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime."

Merz considered that there is no legitimacy for the Iranian leaders, "because they were not elected by the people," noting that the people are currently "rising up," hoping for "a way to peacefully end this conflict."

He pointed out that Berlin is in communication with the United States and other European governments to ensure "the possibility of a peaceful transition to a democratic government in Iran."

Spain Summons Iranian Ambassador

In a related context, Spain summoned its Iranian ambassador today to express "strong condemnation" of the repression campaign carried out by the Tehran authorities against the protests, which according to human rights organizations has resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Catalunya Radio that "the right of Iranians, men and women, to peaceful protest and freedom of expression must be respected, and arbitrary arrests must cease."

Moreover, a human rights organization reported yesterday, Monday, that about 650 protesters have been killed due to the repression campaign implemented by Tehran against the ongoing protests for more than two weeks, while thousands of Iranians demonstrated in Tehran and other cities in support of the authorities of the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, regarded the "huge crowds" that took to the streets in support of the authorities as a "warning" to the United States, whose President Donald Trump had previously threatened military intervention if the repression and killing of protesters continued.

Human rights organizations express concern that the complete internet shutdown by Iranian authorities since Thursday evening is a pretext for a bloody repression campaign against the wider protest movements the country has witnessed for years.

The Iran Human Rights organization, based in Norway, stated on Monday that the death toll of protesters has risen to at least 648, warning that it may rise further and could have reached several thousand.

It noted that the internet shutdown "severely complicates the ability to verify these reports independently," pointing out estimates that authorities have detained 10,000 people since the protests began.

The organization's director, Mahmoud Amiri Moghadam, stated that "it is the international community's duty to protect civilian protesters from mass killings at the hands of the Islamic Republic."

In recent days, the authorities have responded to the massive protests with calls for counter-demonstrations in support of the Islamic Republic, which is facing one of its largest challenges since its establishment in 1979 after the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Thousands participated in a demonstration in a central square in Tehran, supporting the authorities and mourning the members of the security forces who were killed during the protests, according to state television, which broadcast images from the gathering.

The demonstrators appeared to be raising flags of the Islamic Republic in Enghelab Square in central Tehran, while prayers were recited for the souls of the security personnel whom authorities say were killed by "rioters."

Khamenei, who has the final say in the country’s high policies, praised the participants in the demonstrations.

He stated in a statement, "The great Iranian people have displayed their essence, determination, and identity in the face of enemies, and this has served as a warning to American politicians to put an end to their deception and not to bet on treacherous mercenaries," after Washington warned of intervention if the killing of protesters in Iran continues.

He added, "These massive crowds filled with unwavering determination have thwarted the foreign enemies' plots that were intended to be executed by mercenaries within."