Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has commended German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for publicly condemning what he described as human rights violations against the Iranian people amid ongoing tensions involving the United States and Israel.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, Araghchi welcomed Steinmeier’s remarks, noting that the German president had characterized the US-Israeli war on Iran as both aggressive and in breach of international law.
The Iranian minister’s response comes at a time when, according to Tehran, many international leaders have remained largely silent on the issue, making Steinmeier’s comments notable among Western officials.
Speaking earlier at an event in Berlin, Steinmeier described the conflict as “wrong” and said it violated established legal norms. He reiterated his position by stating: “In my view, this war is a violation of international law.”
Reacting to those comments, Araghchi wrote, “International law is dead in practice—driven by Western double standards on Gaza vs. Ukraine and silence on Israel–US aggression on Iran.
“Still, credit to President Steinmeier for condemning the violations against Iranians. Those who value the rule of law should also speak up.”
Steinmeier also questioned the justification for the conflict, expressing doubt over claims of an imminent threat to American interests and suggesting that the rationale for launching military action against Iran lacked sufficient evidence.
The tensions date back to February 28, when, according to Iranian officials, the United States and Israel initiated a military campaign against Iran. Tehran responded swiftly with missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli-controlled areas and US military installations in the region.
