Germany Merz expects Iranian leadership to end soon
In view of the mass protests in Iran, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) expects the country's leadership to come to an end soon. "If a regime can only hold on to power by force, then it is effectively finished. I assume that we are now seeing the last days and weeks of this regime," he said during his visit to India in Bengaluru. In any case, the Iranian leadership has no legitimacy among the population through elections.
13.01.2026, 08:19
13.01.2026, 09:09
SDA
Merz calls for transition to democratically legitimized government
"The population is now rising up against this regime," said the Chancellor. "I hope that there is a way to end this conflict peacefully. The mullah regime must realize that now." He added that talks were being held with the USA, the UK and France on this issue. "The foreign ministers are in very close contact with each other in order to ensure that there can now be a peaceful transition to a democratically legitimized government in Iran."
Merz had already condemned the violence by Iranian security forces against peaceful demonstrators on Monday as "disproportionate" and "brutal". Today, he once again expressed concern about the "ever-increasing willingness of the police, the so-called Revolutionary Guards" to use violence against the demonstrators and called on "the mullah regime" to stop the violence immediately.
For more than two weeks, Iranians have been demonstrating against the Islamic Republic's authoritarian system of rule. The protests, which were triggered by an economic crisis, have now taken on a nationwide dimension. There have been violent riots and serious unrest in cities. The security apparatus has reacted with brutal severity. These are the most serious protests in Iran for years.
Activists estimate that around 650 people have died
The Oslo-based human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) has put the number of deaths since the outbreak of the protests at the end of December at at least 648. The US-based human rights network HRANA also spoke of almost 650 deaths. These include 505 demonstrators - including nine children - and 133 military and police officers.
According to some estimates, even more than 6,000 people could have been killed, IHRNGO wrote on X. Some estimates put the number of arrests at more than 10,000. The information cannot currently be independently verified, partly due to the ongoing internet and telecommunications blockade.
