Germany has decided to close all three Iranian consulates within its borders as a diplomatic response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian national who Iran accused of terrorism, according to DW. This decision was made public by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on October 30, 2024. The consulates affected are located in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, leaving only the Iranian embassy in Berlin operational.
Germany has also "recalled for consultations" its ambassador to Iran, Markus Potzel, for consultations in Berlin following the execution as diplomatic tensions escalate between the two nations, according to Spiegel Politik. The German Foreign Office warned that Iran should expect "timely measures" in response to the execution. A ministry spokesperson said the killing of a German citizen would "extremely strain" relations with Iran, which had already been reduced to a minimum.
Baerbock strongly condemned the "murder" of Sharmahd by the Iranian regime. The embassy in Tehran had worked tirelessly on Sharmahd's behalf. A high-ranking team had been sent to Iran multiple times for this purpose. "Throughout this process, we repeatedly made it unambiguously clear to Tehran that the execution of a German citizen would have serious consequences," Baerbock stated.
This move comes in the wake of escalating tensions due to Sharmahd's execution, which has been internationally criticized as a sham trial. The Foreign Office expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by European partners, who had also clearly condemned the execution. "It is also clear that serious consequences loom for EU-Iran relations," the spokesperson said. The focus would be on "targeted and significant measures" that would now be pursued jointly. "In this context, we will naturally also discuss the topic of sanctions."
Iran's judiciary announced Sharmahd's execution on Monday. He had been sentenced to death in spring 2023 in a controversial trial based on terrorism charges. The German government, family members, and human rights activists vehemently rejected the accusations against him. On Tuesday, the Foreign Office had already summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Iranian embassy to convey its sharp protest against the action. Ambassador Potzel had also protested at the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran.
