ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday expressed his support for more European Union (EU) sanctions being imposed on Iran, heavily criticizing Tehran for its violent crackdown on ongoing protests.
"We want to continue to step up the pressure on the [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps and the political leadership," Scholz said in a video address.
The EU is working on a new package of sanctions against Iran, and its foreign ministers are set to meet on November 14 to agree on additional sanctions against Iran aimed at increasing pressure on the political leadership.
"What kind of government are you if you shoot your own citizens? Those who act like that must expect us to respond," Scholz said.
The chancellor added that Iran will receive additional sanctions for providing Russia with drones to attack Ukrainian cities, which he said had caused casualties and was unacceptable.
Last month, the EU also approved a new set of sanctions over Iranian-made drones being used by Russia in its war in Ukraine.
Germany's foreign minister on Wednesday said in a tweet that they “are working flat out on the next package of sanctions," adding that the country stands with the people of Iran as long as it is necessary.
The nationwide demonstrations in Iran have been ongoing for eight weeks with protesters chanting "Woman, life, freedom," and, "Death to the dictator."
"We are witnessing the fight for freedom and justice," Scholz said.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany with Iranian roots fear for their relatives and are "appalled and disgusted by what the Mullah regime is doing to the demonstrators," the chancellor continued. "It is clear that the Iranian government is solely responsible for this spate of violence."
"Those who demonstrate against oppression in Iran risk their lives, and often also the lives of their loved ones -- and face the prospect of torture and decades in prison," he said.
Iran Human Rights on Saturday raised the latest death toll of the protests to 326 people, including 43 children.
Over 80,000 people joined a rally in Berlin last month in solidarity with women-led protests in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in police custody in September, chanting "Women, Life, Freedom" and some waving Kurdish flags.
.webp&w=3840&q=75)
