In the aftermath of the elections in Iran, Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a statement on June 21, called on the government of Iran to allow the peaceful demonstrations and to recount the ballots.

"Germany stands on the side of those people in Iran who want to exercise their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. I strongly urge the Iranian leaders 

• to allow peaceful demonstrations;
• not to use force against demonstrators;
• to release political prisoners;
• to allow free reporting by the media; and
• to recount the votes cast in the presidential election.

What is true for the rest of the world is also true for the Iran: general human and civil rights must be fully respected!"

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Protestors in Tehran on June 17

(© dpa - Bildfunk)

The situation in Iran will be one of the central topics when Chancellor Merkel meets with President Obama in Washington, DC, on June 26.

Iran’s ambassador to Berlin, Ali Reza Sheikh Attar, was summoned to the Foreign Office in Berlin on January 22. It was made clear to him that the accusations from Iranian sources of interference by Western States are not conducive to defusing the tense situation in Iran. The current situation in Iran was not caused by Western States. Moreover, what is at issue is the respect of fundamental human and civil rights by Iran.

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Foreign Minister Steinmeier

(© Thomas Imo/photothek.net)

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday warned against further escalation of the situation. “One week after the elections Iran now stands at a crossroads,” he said. “Either the current situation can be defused through dialogue between all political forces or it will continue to escalate. I appeal to the authorities in Tehran to do everything possible to avoid the situation escalating even further. The use of force against demonstrators is just as unacceptable as the continuing restrictions on press coverage.”