Friedrich Merz says government is ‘effectively at the end’ after nearly 650 protesters reportedly killed in the ongoing crackdown
We are restarting our live coverage of the ongoing anti-government protests in Iran which are widely seen as the most serious challenge to the country’s Islamic Republic in recent years.
At least 648 protesters have been killed in the ongoing crackdown, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights. Thousands more people have been injured since the demonstrations started on 28 December over the collapse of the Iranian currency and general economic malaise.
Speaking while on a diplomatic visit to India earlier today, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he believes the Iranian government is in its “final days and weeks”, adding that the regime lacks “legitimacy through elections in the population”.
“If a regime can only keep itself in power by force, then it’s effectively at the end,” Merz said.
