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3. German Chancellor Says Iranian Regime Likely Living its ‘Last Days’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said he believes Iran’s regime is living out its last days, as pressure grows on the Islamic Republic over protests that have reportedly killed hundreds of people.

“When a regime can only hold on to power through violence, then it is effectively finished,” Merz tells reporters in Bengaluru, during a visit to India.

“I believe that we are now witnessing the last days and weeks of this regime.”

European Parliament Responds to Mounting Death Toll

The European Parliament on Monday barred diplomats and representatives of the Iranian regime from accessing its buildings, in response to the ongoing violent crackdown on protests across Iran, Politico reported. 

The announcement was made by Parliament President Roberta Metsola in a letter to Members of the European Parliament.

The ban applies to all Parliament sites in Brussels and Strasbourg, as well as the General Secretariat in Luxembourg. Iranian passport holders will be screened at entry, and anyone identified as working for the Iranian regime will be denied access immediately. “The Iranian people can continue to count on this Parliament for support, solidarity, and action,” Metsola wrote in the letter.

Metsola also referenced possible new EU sanctions, which are being considered by the bloc’s diplomatic service. “Those who brave the streets, like the political prisoners still being held, need more than just statements of solidarity,” she said.

Potential measures under discussion include designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and expanding sanctions against individuals responsible for repression, violence, and executions.

Despite communication blackouts and arbitrary arrests, Metsola emphasized that Europe “hears the demands for dignity and freedom” voiced by Iranians, reaffirming the EU’s support for protesters and political prisoners.

The move comes amid growing international condemnation of Iran’s suppression of demonstrations calling for an end to decades of theocratic rule and directly challenging the authority of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.