German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the European Union is studying new sanctions against Iran due to protests in the country.
The head of the German government wrote in newspaper X: “We call on the Iranian leadership to protect its people and not threaten them.” He noted that the violence should stop immediately. “To focus on this issue, we are studying new EU sanctions,” the Prime Minister said.
On December 29, protests by traders began in Tehran due to a sharp drop in the exchange rate of the Iranian rial. On December 30, students joined the protest. Riots spread to most major cities. Authorities reported the deaths of 38 law enforcement officers. Since January 8, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, armed terrorists have appeared among the protesters. Iranian authorities blame Israel and the US for organizing the unrest.
