Merz: It's the end

“If the regime can remain in power only through violence, then it is practically at its end. I assume we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime,” Merz told reporters during his visit to India.

“I hope there is a way for this conflict to end peacefully. The mullah regime must also recognize that,” he added.

The chancellor’s comments came after more than two weeks of nationwide anti-government demonstrations in Iran, which began due to the country’s devastating economic situation. According to the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights, the Tehran regime — led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — has killed over 600 protesters and arrested more than 10,000 in a brutal crackdown.

On Friday, Merz issued a joint statement with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the crackdown.

“We are deeply concerned by reports of violence by Iranian security forces and strongly condemn the killing of protesters,” the statement read.

EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced on Monday that she is prepared to advocate for stricter sanctions against Iran.

In Germany, Merz’s conservative bloc has long supported designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization within the EU. Recently, leading German conservative lawmakers urged their ministers to take action on this matter.

Merz’s statements came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on countries that continue economic trade with Iran.