Germany says it wants to increase pressure on Iran after latest executions

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives carol singers at the German Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Christian Mang

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday condemned Iran for using the death penalty against demonstrators, and his spokesperson said Berlin wanted to crank up pressure on the Iranian authorities with new international measures.

Iran hanged two men on Saturday for allegedly killing a member of the security forces during nationwide protests that followed the death of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16, drawing condemnation from the European Union, the United States and other Western nations.