Merz condemns 'brutal' violence against demonstrators in Iran

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on a state visit to India on Monday, condemned the violence directed by Iranian security forces against peaceful demonstrators as "disproportionate" and "brutal."

"I call on the Iranian leadership to protect its population instead of threatening it," Merz said during a visit to the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

"We condemn the violence that the leadership in Tehran is directing against its own people in the strongest terms."

He said it was "a sign of weakness, not a sign of strength," adding that "this violence must end."

Merz expressly praised the courage of the protesters, saying they were demonstrating peacefully for freedom in their country and that is their right.

According to activists, the protests in Iran have now spread to 186 cities. A total of 483 demonstrators have been killed, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported. It said at least 544 people had died, including children and 47 security personnel.

Around 10,700 people had been detained, it added.

The group's figures could not be independently verified.