German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday during a trip to India that he believes Iran’s leadership is in its “final days and weeks” as the regime faces widespread protests.
The demonstrations in Iran have moved from complaints about economic hardships to calls for the fall of the clerical establishment.
Merz questioned the legitimacy of the Iranian leadership during his visit. “I assume that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” Merz said.
“When a regime can only maintain power through violence, then it is effectively at its end. The population is now rising up against this regime.”
According to Reuters, the Chancellor stated that Germany is in close contact with the United States (US) and other European governments regarding the situation.
He, however, urged Iran to end the crackdown on protesters.
Recall that the US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade with the United States.
Germany is currently Iran’s largest trading partner in the European Union, though trade volume has decreased.
According to data from the federal statistics office, German exports to Iran fell 25% to 871 million euros ($1.02 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025. This total represents less than 0.1% of all German exports.
(Reuters)