Sharjah 24 – AFP: Germany will close its three Iranian consulates in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian citizen, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on Thursday.
Baerbock stated, "We have clearly communicated to Tehran that executing a German citizen will have serious consequences," revealing the closures of the consulates in Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg during a televised address.
The execution, announced earlier this week, has already led to diplomatic protests, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeling it a "scandal." Baerbock criticized Iran's actions, saying, "This assassination, amidst recent developments in the Middle East, shows that Iran's dictatorial regime does not adhere to normal diplomatic logic."
The closures will impact 32 consular staff, though Baerbock did not mention Iran's embassy in Berlin, stating that Germany will maintain diplomatic channels and its embassy in Tehran to advocate for the release of other detained German citizens.
Sharmahd, 69, was sentenced to death in February 2023 for "corruption on Earth," linked to a 2008 mosque bombing in Shiraz that resulted in 14 deaths and hundreds of injuries. His family insists he is innocent, and Amnesty International described his trial as a "show trial."
Iran defended the execution, asserting that "a German passport does not grant impunity."
Germany is also advocating for further EU sanctions against Iran. Baerbock revealed efforts to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, condemned Sharmahd's execution and mentioned that the bloc is considering response measures.
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