dpa/rtr/afp | Thousands of people are demonstrating in Berlin against the authoritarian government in Tehran and for solidarity with the people of Iran. The Exil-Iranian Society in Berlin, among others, called for the “Freedom for Iran” rally. Around 340 international organizations and political figures support the demonstration, which was called for on social media, with flyers and large advertisements in some newspapers.
According to police, around 8,000 people gathered at the start of the event. It was said that more demonstrators joined in. The organizer expected 100,000 participants. But many people are still on their way, said a spokesman. Flights from Sweden and Denmark have been canceled. People are now traveling on the bus. The police spoke of a peaceful incident. According to her own information, she accompanied the meeting with around 380 people.
Many relatives at the demonstration
Organizers said the demonstrators included many relatives of people killed or arrested during recent protests in Iran. Many waved Iranian flags. Photos of the President of the National Council of Resistance (NCRI), which is banned in Iran, Maryam Rajavi, were also held up. Some people wore yellow vests with the words “Free Iran” written on them.
Iran – What does this have to do with us?
The massacres in Iran, their consequences and the chances of regime change for the Middle East. A joint event by taz, taz Panter Foundation and Deutsches Theater Berlin.
With Amir Gudarzi (writer, Vienna), Mahtab Qolizadeh (journalist, Berlin), Ali Sadrzadeh (Khamenei biographer, Frankfurt/M.), Daniela Sepehri (author, Berlin) Andreas Fanizadeh (taz editorial team, Berlin) and NN (member of the German Bundestag, requested)
When: Sun., February 8, 2026, 5 p.m
Admission: 4.30 p.m
Where: Deutsches Theater, Rangfoyer
Schumannstrasse 13A
10117 Berlin
Admission free. Seat reservation required: https://pretix.eu/panter/iran/
The event will take place in German.
Rajavi spoke to the demonstrators in Berlin. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should be connected live. Other speakers should include the former head of the Chancellery Peter Altmaier (CDU) and the former Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (FDP).
A dramatic economic crisis and very high inflation triggered protests in Iran at the end of December. The demonstrations developed into political protests against the authoritarian system of rule. Security forces used violence. Iranian human rights groups reported more than 3,400 deaths. Exact figures are difficult to verify because of the information blackout.
Iran threatens to attack US military bases
Iran has threatened to retaliate against American military bases in the Middle East in the event of a US attack. This should not be understood as an attack on the countries in which the US bases are located, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera on Saturday. “It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region.” There is a big difference between an attack on neighboring countries and on US bases stationed there.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, no date has yet been set for the next round of nuclear talks with the USA. However, Tehran and Washington are of the opinion that the talks should continue soon, reports Al Jazeera channel, citing the minister. US President Donald Trump had previously announced further talks for the coming week. Both sides held talks in Oman on Friday.
Trump reiterates that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. At the same time, he is confident that the government in Tehran wants to conclude an agreement. He announces further discussions for the coming week and emphasizes that there is enough time.
According to a media report, the US government is planning a summit meeting on a “peace council” for the Gaza Strip on February 19th. The meeting should also be a donor conference for the reconstruction of the coastal area, reports the news portal Axios. According to the report, plans are still at an early stage and could change. A statement from the White House and the US State Department was not immediately available.
Trump praises talks with Iran
The indirect ones Negotiations between the USA and Iran in Oman According to Donald Trump, the results were positive. “We also had very good discussions about Iran, Iran seems very interested in reaching an agreement,” Trump told reporters on Friday (local time). A next round of talks will take place “at the beginning of next week”. The US President also signed a decree threatening Iran’s trading partners with further punitive tariffs.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously described the climate during the negotiations in the Omani capital Muscat as “very positive”. According to Araghchi, the talks focused exclusively on the nuclear issue. The US had previously urged that Tehran’s support for militias in the Middle East and its ballistic missile program also need to be put on the agenda.
At the meetings, the delegations of the enemy states did not confer directly with each other, but through Oman’s mediators.