After critical statements by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Iran says it has summoned German Ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel. This was reported by the state news agency Iran on Monday. The report was confirmed by circles in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
On Saturday, Scholz sharply criticized the course taken by the Iranian leadership in the violent suppression of protests. “What kind of government are you that shoots at its own citizens? Anyone who acts like this must reckon with our resistance,” said the Chancellor in a video podcast.
Foreign Office spokesman Nasser Kanaani also criticized Germany on Monday, primarily because of the imposition of new punitive measures. “Germany is not in a position to blame Iran,” Kanaani said. The EU imposed new sanctions on Iran on Monday because of the violent government crackdown on protests.
The background to the sanctions is the suppression of protests after the death of 22-year-old Iranian Mahsa Amini. The morality police had arrested the young woman because she is said to have violated the Islamic dress code. Amini died in police custody on September 16. Since then, thousands have been demonstrating against the Islamic Republic’s repressive course of government.
