German top diplomat slams Iran over crackdown on protesters

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday condemned the crackdown by Iranian security forces on the protests that have swept the country for days.

In a post on X, Wadephul stressed the right of Iranians to express their opinion.

"I therefore condemn the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators and call on the Iranian authorities to abide by their international obligations," the minister said.

Iran has been rocked by a new wave of protests for 11 days, initially triggered by a shock on Iran's foreign exchange market, which prompted angry traders in Tehran to take to the streets.

The demonstrations quickly turned into political protests against the authoritarian government of the Islamic Republic, with security forces cracking down on demonstrators with full force.

At least 38 people have been killed in clashes with the authorities since the protests broke out, according to US-based human rights network HRANA.