German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Named on Iranian Revenge List

The Tehran‑municipality‑run newspaper Hamshahri published a graphic depicting 13 Western politicians in orange prison‑style jumpsuits with crosshairs over their heads. The collage, captioned “Revenge is inevitable,” lists U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, among others, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The image follows a statement by Iran’s supreme leader’s son, Modschtaba Chamenei, promising retaliation after the death of senior cleric Ali Chamenei.

German authorities confirmed they have taken note of the list. A government spokesperson said the security measures surrounding Chancellor Merz are already “very, very high” and declined to comment further. Federal police are reviewing protection arrangements and monitoring any intelligence indicating possible espionage or attack preparations. The interior ministry emphasized ongoing cooperation with international partners and stated that, despite the heightened rhetoric, the overall threat level in Germany has not risen.

The list also features French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other U.S. and Israeli officials. No official response from the chancellor’s office has been reported.