Why it matters:
Protesters called Germany’s actions as part of a long‑standing pattern, citing its support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq war and backing for Israel in the recent 12‑day war against Iran.
Organizers say continued “interventionist” policies risk further damaging public sentiment toward Germany inside Iran.
The big picture:
Iranian critics often point to Germany’s relationship with Iran as evidence of a recurring pattern of harmful or interventionist behavior by Berlin:
- Support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq War: German companies were among the foreign suppliers whose materials were used by Saddam’s regime, including components later linked to Iraq’s chemical weapons program — a trauma that remains deeply embedded in Iran’s collective memory.
- Alignment with U.S. and European pressure campaigns: Over the past two decades, Germany has played a central role in EU sanctions architecture targeting Iran’s economy, banking system, and energy sector, which many Iranians view as collective punishment.
- Consistent political backing for Israel: Berlin’s strong, long‑standing support for Israel — including during recent conflicts — is perceived in Iran as enabling military actions that harm civilians, reinforcing the narrative of a Western double standard.
What we are hearing:
one of the students said that today Iranian students came to stand for their country's rights. As you know, we exprienced unrest in Iran while some terrorist groups killed many of our people. They destroyed what belongs to Iranian like banks. On the other side, some governemnt including Germany support these groups. Germany supported these groups through media. We want to say that we do not like this way.
Go deeper:
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Neda Sajjadi - A.Akbari
