Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has sharply criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz responding to recent statements from the German leader regarding human rights and regional issues.
The post, directly addresses Merz’s remarks on human rights and legitimacy, which appear to relate to ongoing tensions, including protests in Iran and broader Middle East dynamics.
In the post, Araghchi states that of all governments, Germany’s is “perhaps the worst placed to address ‘human rights‘” due to what he describes as blatant double standards that have undermined its credibility. He points to inconsistencies in Germany’s approach: when Iran takes action against groups it labels as terrorists responsible for killing civilians and police officers, Merz reportedly describes violence as an expression of weakness. Araghchi contrasts this with Merz’s alleged full support for what he calls the mass murder of 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
Araghchi further references Merz’s comments from last summer, when Israel conducted strikes on Iranian targets. In a ZDF interview on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, Merz described Israel’s actions against Iran’s regime as “the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us.” He stated that Germany and others are affected by the “Mullah regime,” which he accused of bringing death and destruction worldwide through support for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, including the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. Merz expressed respect for Israel’s courage in acting, suggesting that without such steps, the world might face prolonged terror or even nuclear threats from the regime.
Araghchi calls this stance repugnant, framing the Israeli strikes as unprovoked and unlawful violence against homes and businesses in Iran, yet praised by Merz as a favor to Europe. He also criticizes Germany for remaining silent on what he terms the recent U.S. kidnapping of a head of state.
Araghchi concludes by dismissing Merz’s lectures on human rights and legitimacy as meaningless, given Germany’s actions. He urges Germany to “have some shame” and to end its interference in the region, including support for what he describes as genocide and terrorism.
The post includes a video clip, which features excerpts from Merz’s ZDF interview where he makes the referenced “dirty work” comments amid discussions on the Israel-Iran conflict.
This exchange highlights ongoing diplomatic friction between Iran and Germany, particularly in the context of differing views on Israel’s security actions against Iran, the Gaza conflict, and human rights standards. Merz, who became chancellor in May 2025, has maintained a strong pro-Israel position in foreign policy, including during the 2025 escalations involving Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities.
