German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that he believes the Iranian leadership is living through its “final days and weeks” as it faces widespread protests across the country.
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Demonstrations in Iran have evolved from complaints over severe economic hardships into calls for the overthrow of the country’s ruling establishment.
Speaking during a visit to India, Merz said, “I assume that we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” questioning the legitimacy of Iran’s leadership.
He added, “When a system can maintain power only through violence, it means that it is effectively at its end. The people are now rising up against this regime.”
Merz said Germany is in close contact with the United States and European governments regarding the situation in Iran, and urged Tehran to end its crackdown on protesters, which has resulted in fatalities.
He declined to comment on Germany’s trade relations with Iran.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that any country conducting trade with Iran would face a 25% tariff on its trade with the United States.
Despite extensive restrictions, Germany maintains limited trade relations with Iran, making Berlin Tehran’s largest trading partner within the European Union.
According to data from the Federal Statistical Office reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday, German exports to Iran fell by 25% to just under €871 million ($1.02 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025, accounting for less than 0.1% of Germany’s total exports.
Reuters
