By Euronews Parsi
Published on
The death toll in Iran’s protests could reach thousands as the regime deliberately cuts communications to hide the scale of killings, MEP Hannah Neumann told Euronews, while expressing concern over contradictory messages from US President Donald Trump.
Neumann, a German European lawmaker from the Greens group who leads the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Iran, told Euronews in an interview that images emerging from Iran with delays of one or two days show body bags stacked together and people queuing at cemeteries to identify family members.
“I fear we will be facing thousands of deaths when a fuller picture of the situation is obtained,” Neumann said.
“I also have a lot of Iranian friends who have friends and relatives in Iran who have gone to protests, but right now even our messages are not reaching them. No one knows if they have returned home, whether they have been detained or killed.”
Neumann said the regime is deliberately blocking communications to transmit its propaganda while preventing the truth from reaching the world.
She called for international pressure to restore internet access and support methods to bypass communication restrictions, including Starlink satellite service.
“Iranian protesters are absolutely right to ask people in the United States, Europe, and around the world to stand by them against the brutality of this regime,” Neumann said.
Trump’s shifting messages on Iran a concern
The official expressed concern over Trump’s shifting messages on Iran. “I’m trying, like everyone else, to figure out what Trump means by these messages,” Neumann said.
“He says one thing in the morning and another in the evening. And in such volatile situations, that’s very dangerous.”
Neumann referenced the US operation against Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, saying many initially celebrated but now see Trump “just pushed Maduro aside, but his system and regime continue in Venezuela. This is certainly not what the Iranian people are taking to the streets for.”
She called for expelling Iranian ambassadors and embassy staff from EU countries, saying they abuse diplomatic privileges for propaganda and cross-border repression.
Neumann also urged the EU to place Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the terrorist organisations list, a step the Parliament has called for more than three years.
“What we did in the European Parliament on Monday — banning Iranian officials from entering the Parliament building — was one of the immediate steps we could take,” she said.
“This Parliament has been calling for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organisation for more than three years, and I honestly do not understand why some member states still appear to be blocking this move.”
“All I can tell you is what I personally hope for and what I am working towards for the people of Iran: that this oppression and this regime come to an end, and that Iranians are given the opportunity to discuss and work on a transition,” Neumann said.
“And whenever there is a chance for transition, it is essential that everyone is included, because this will be a very difficult process.”