Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Germany was “perhaps the worst-placed” government to lecture others on human rights, arguing that Berlin’s credibility had been “obliterated” by its total support for the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza.

“When Iran defeats terrorists who kill civilians and police officers, the German chancellor rushes to declare that ‘violence is an expression of weakness’,” Araghchi posted on X.

“What, then, does Mr Merz have to say about his wholehearted support for the mass murder of 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza?” he asked.

His comments came in the wake of Merz’s remarks questioning the legitimacy of Iran’s government and suggesting it was nearing collapse following the recent riots across the country.