The German government is facing mounting pressure to reassess its Iran policy following escalating protests against the ruling clerical regime. Adis Ahmetovic, spokesperson for foreign policy within the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group, has publicly urged Berlin to take decisive action, criticizing the government’s current approach as insufficient.
Ahmetovic’s call for immediate consequences focused primarily on temporary deportations to Iran, which he insists should be suspended without delay. He underscored the presence of Iranian activists, many linked to the trade union movement, actively seeking humanitarian visas through channels like the German Trade Union Confederation. He argued that Germany and Europe as a whole, must move beyond symbolic gestures of solidarity, demonstrating its commitment through concrete political action and the deployment of available humanitarian instruments.
Beyond addressing immediate concerns for activists, Ahmetovic intensified the debate surrounding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He declared the ongoing discussion regarding the EU’s potential designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization “obsolete” emphasizing the urgency of a definitive decision. “This Revolutionary Guard is a force of repression” he stated, adding that the organization has no place within Europe and should be placed on the sanctions list.
The SPD politician’s strong stance represents a potential shift in the parliamentary discourse on Iran, challenging the government’s traditionally cautious approach and potentially fueling an internal debate within the ruling coalition. Critics are questioning whether the government’s past reluctance to impose harsher measures has inadvertently emboldened the Iranian regime and hindered support for the burgeoning protest movement. Ahmetovic’s intervention signals a growing impatience within parts of the political establishment regarding the need for a more robust and assertive stance towards Tehran.