Germany closes all Iranian consulates on its territory - What is known
Illustrative photo: Germany closes all Iranian consulates (Getty Images)
Germany has announced the closure of all Iranian consulates on its territory. This decision came after the execution of Djamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian citizen, in Iran, Tagesschau reports.
According to media reports, three Iranian consulates in Germany will be closed in Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg. However, the embassy in Berlin will remain open.
This decision is a response to the execution of Djamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian citizen with dual nationality.
It is also known that 32 Iranian consular staff members will lose their right to reside in Germany and must leave the country if they do not hold German citizenship.
Who is Djamshid Sharmahd
Djamshid Sharmahd was a German-Iranian activist accused by the Iranian authorities of organizing a terrorist attack at a mosque in Shiraz in 2008, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people.
Sharmahd lived in the United States for an extended period and was the leader of the opposition group Tondar, which opposes the Iranian regime. He was arrested in 2020, and in 2023, an Iranian court sentenced him to death. Iranian authorities announced his execution in October 2024.
The German government condemned this action, calling it a serious violation of human rights.
Diplomatic relations between Iran and Germany
Diplomatic relations between Iran and Germany have recently deteriorated significantly due to a series of political and human rights issues. Following the Iranian government's intensified repression of protesters, particularly in the wake of Mahsa Amini's death, Germany began to reduce its engagement with Iran and implement additional restrictions.
Germany has specifically limited visa issuance for Iranian officials and halted bilateral dialogues in the cultural and trade sectors. Berlin also supports new sanctions against Iranian officials at the EU level, particularly in light of the worsening human rights situation in Iran.
The detention and execution of German-Iranian activist Djamshid Sharmahd further exacerbated tensions.
Germany has sharply condemned Iran's actions, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasizing the need for further isolation of Tehran on the international stage.
Earlier, we reported that the Israel Defense Forces struck several targets in Iran. This attack was in response to a large-scale shelling of Israeli territory by Iran on October 1.
