The ongoing demonstrations in Iran are prompting the German Green Party to call for increased pressure on the Iranian regime, arguing that current diplomatic responses are insufficient to meaningfully support protestors. Sara Nanni, the Green Party’s expert on security and defense within the Bundestag, criticized the government’s actions, stating in an interview with the Rheinische Post that “warm words offer little assistance to the people on the streets of Tehran.
Nanni emphasized that Germany possesses leverage that remains largely untapped. She specifically suggested expanding offers of refuge for vulnerable individuals from Iranian civil society and implementing a moratorium on deportations to Iran. The Green politician also pointedly noted the continued absence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) listing on the European Union’s terror list, a measure frequently championed by opposition factions within Germany.
Critics within the Green Party contend that the federal government’s response has been characterized by a lack of concrete action, beyond a few vaguely worded statements. Nanni warned that the government risks undermining its credibility regarding Iran policy if it fails to adopt a more assertive and substantive approach. The call represents a growing divergence of opinion within the German political landscape regarding appropriate strategies for engaging with Tehran amidst the escalating domestic unrest.