German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the suppression of protests in Iran ruthless and praised it as a sign of the government's weakness.

The Chancellor said this during his visit to India.

"Since the protests began, people from all walks of life have taken to the streets and demonstrated peacefully for a freer and better life," Mertz said.

The German Chancellor added that protests are the right of the Iranian people and their resistance to violence is commendable.

Recall that the protests in Iran began in late December 2025 due to the devaluation of the local currency, the rial. Initially, the main issue was the sudden change in the exchange rate and its impact on wholesale and retail prices, but later the protests in a number of cities in the country turned into clashes with the police. There were deaths and injuries both among the security forces and among the participants in the riots.