Three Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg will be closed, Targetschau newspaper reported on Thursday. This was a reaction to the execution of German nationals in Tehran. Germany's foreign minister also announced further measures.
The government of President Olaf Scholz took action following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahad, who held German-Iranian nationality. The man was executed after a “grossly unfair” trial.
Tensions between Berlin and Tehran. “Significant consequences”
The decision to close Iranian consulates in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich was taken on Thursday, as announced by Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Verbock. He added that the embassy in Berlin should be opened.
As a result, 32 consular staff lost their right to reside in Germany and had to leave the country.
“The reaction to the executions is therefore stronger than many expected,” said the Tageschau journalist.
See also: Will Germany send 40,000 migrants back to Poland? There was a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Verbock said the Berlin government had clearly and firmly communicated in the past that the execution of Sharmafud would have “grave consequences”.
She stressed that this was a “cold-blooded murder” and added that “even after the recent regime change, the regime continues to operate with complete brutality.”
Germany's foreign affairs chief also announced that he would seek in Brussels to include Iran's Revolutionary Guards on the EU's list of terrorist organizations.
Death penalty in Iran. Jamshid Sharmahad dies
Jamshid Sharmahad was sentenced to death in spring 2023 on terrorism charges. On Monday, Iran's judicial system announced that the sentence had been carried out.
The man was purged by the Tehran regime, presumably for joining the Tondar rebel group. “The Iranian government has accused the organization of being involved in a 2008 attack in the city of Shiraz that left several people dead,” the German daily reported.
Berlin's government, relatives and human rights activists strongly rejected the charges against Mr Sharmafud, calling the trial “grossly unfair”.
Convicts could not even hire their own lawyers.
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