When his death sentence was announced, the Iranian rapper covered his face with his hands

Saman Yassin still has the courage to contradict. The 27-year-old Iranian-Kurdish rapper knows that his life is at stake in the trial before a Tehran Revolutionary Court. The charge: He was guilty of the crime of "Moharebeh", the war against God and his prophet, by firing three shots from a pistol at a demonstration.

But that's not possible, Yassin contradicts in a video of the court hearing that the authorities have published. He only had an air pistol with him. In addition, he already has eleven previous convictions, the prosecutors claim. That's not true either, Yassin replies. He was previously tortured, as his supporters say. He did not have access to a lawyer.

When the judge announces the death sentence, Yassin puts his hands in front of his face. It is not known whether he has already been executed or is still alive. But these days, participants in the ongoing protests against the rule of religious scholars are repeatedly being sentenced to death. Nine have been publicly announced, but the actual number is unknown. But everyone in Iran should know that protest means death.

The fact that the recordings of Yassin's show trial were published is in line with the latest strategy of the leadership in Tehran. She wants to make it clear to the population that protesting on the streets almost automatically means death. This fear is apparently intended to achieve what the brutal use of sharp weapons by the security forces has not achieved: an end to the demonstrations across the country.

The Iranian parliament recently even passed a resolution that called on all parts of the state, and in particular the judiciary, to bring "divine vengeance" on the protesters. The fact that summary proceedings are now starting before so-called revolutionary courts is a warning that every Iranian citizen understands. Since the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, these tribunals have repeatedly carried out mass executions. It's a throwback to the earliest forms of violence in the Cleric system.

Because of the ruthless handling of the protests, the EU is planning a new sanctions package against Iran. It is to be decided by the EU Council of Foreign Ministers on Monday. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also referred to these efforts, while the opposition criticized the federal government for allegedly too hesitant measures against Tehran.

In general, Germany has so far been one of the western countries with particularly good contacts to Iran. But the traffic light apparently wants to show that it is pursuing a fundamentally new line towards Tehran. "We're not letting up," Baerbock wrote in a tweet on Wednesday. “We stand with the men

Apparently, 31 other regime representatives and Iranian institutions are to be put on the EU sanctions lists. Among them are likely to be commanders of the Revolutionary Guards. The Iranian paramilitaries are the main support of the ruling ultra-conservatives within the Iranian elite - and the main tool in the crackdown on the protests. In the United States, they have long been considered a terrorist organization.

In view of the recent events, there are calls for the Guards to be included on the EU terror list. But there is no consensus on this among the member states. Such a listing usually requires a procedure against the guards in a state of the Union. And unanimity would be required for a decision.

So far, several hundred Iranian people and institutions have been on the European sanctions lists. In Canada there are more than 10,000. There can be several reasons why some EU countries are in favor of a more cautious line. Governments may fear negative consequences for EU citizens imprisoned in Iran in the event of a further escalation.

On the other hand, there is the situation in the nuclear dispute with Tehran. The nuclear agreement, which was intended to limit Iran's nuclear program to civilian purposes, is effectively no longer effective. After the United States withdrew from the treaty under Donald Trump, Iran also no longer adhered to the specifications and has meanwhile enriched so much uranium that it could build several nuclear explosive devices after a few further enrichment steps.

Talks about reviving the nuclear deal are deadlocked, and international concern is growing that Iran is building the bomb or stopping so close that it poses a nuclear threat.

One consideration could be that in such a situation, despite the human rights violations, one must still try to keep channels of communication open with Tehran. "The regime will not get any better if they have a nuclear weapon, it will only get worse for regional security and also for the people of Iran," said Baerbock after the G-7 meeting in Münster last week.

But that doesn't mean she advocates a softer line on Iran. On the contrary. After all, Baerbock has already publicly brought the Revolutionary Guards' terrorist listing into play, which other EU countries still shy away from.

In Tehran, a new German Iran policy is being perceived very clearly. Her Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollhian, responded directly to Baerbock's tweet about new sanctions: "Secretary of State Baerbock - provocative, interventionist and undiplomatic statements do not show maturity and wisdom." Undermining "long-standing relationships" has long-term consequences. "Our response will be firm and appropriate."