'Shocked and appalled' by Iran images, Dutch minister urges EU action

Italian lawmaker Giorgio Gori said on Monday that thousands of Iranians living in Italy were in distress over the crackdown in their home country and urged Europe and the Italian government to use all available means to pressure Tehran.

In a post on X, Gori said communications with Iran had been cut off since Thursday, leaving many without direct news from family members.

“For the 25,000 Iranian citizens living in Italy, these are days of anguish,” he wrote. “Communications with Iran are blocked. Since Thursday they have had no more contact or direct news.”

He said they were aware that many people had been killed in the repression and feared for the future of their country.

“They hope that Europe and the Italian government will use all the tools at their disposal to put pressure on the authorities in Tehran, and they hope for our support,” Gori wrote.

“Not making them feel alone is our task,” he added.

German lawmaker Norbert Röttgen said on Monday that Iran’s clerical leadership would eventually be overthrown, urging Western countries to prepare for what he described as a revolutionary process.

In a post on X, Röttgen, a member of Germany’s parliament, pointed to past and current waves of protests in Iran as signs of deepening unrest.

“The mullah regime in Iran will and must fall. It's only a matter of time,” he wrote. “We must prepare for the overthrow of the mullahs and support the revolutionary process.”

The European Union said on Monday it was ready to propose tougher sanctions on Iran following what it described as a violent crackdown on protesters.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the bloc stood in solidarity with the Iranian people and condemned the use of force.

“We do stand in full solidarity with the Iranian people, and we condemn the use of force against demonstrators. We are appalled by the reports of casualties,” he said.

El Anouni said the EU was prepared to move ahead with new measures, but that any decision would require the backing of all member states.

“We stand ready to propose new, more severe sanctions following the violent crackdown on protesters. This is a decision for Member States to take unanimously in the Council,” he said.

He added that the EU already had a legal framework in place targeting those responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.

“We have a dedicated legal framework that is targeting perpetrators of serious human rights violations and abuses in Iran,” he said.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned US President Donald Trump on Monday against what he described as threats toward Iran, saying any attack would be met with a strong response.

“We have heard that you have threatened Iran,” Ghalibaf said, according to state media. “The defenders of Iran will teach you an unforgettable lesson.”

He added that US assets in the region would be destroyed if Washington acted against Tehran.

“All American centers and forces throughout the region will be our legitimate targets in response to any potential adventurism. Come and see how all your capabilities in the region will be wiped out,” he said.

Addressing Trump directly, Ghalibaf said: “Do not believe the lies that are being told to you.”

Switzerland on Monday expressed deep concern over arrests and deaths linked to protests in Iran and urged authorities to end violence against demonstrators.

The Swiss government said in a statement that it was closely following developments in Iran amid reports of widespread detentions and fatalities during anti-government demonstrations.

It called on Iranian authorities to stop using force against protesters and to guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms for all participants in the protests.