Germany will close 3 Iranian consulates, after the execution of the German-Iranian citizen

2024-11-01 08:08:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany will close 3 Iranian consulates, after the execution of the

Germany will close all three Iranian consulates in Germany in response to the execution of German-Iranian citizen Jamshid Sharmahd by Iran, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said late Thursday.

"We have made it clear time and time again that the execution of a German citizen will have serious consequences," Baerbock said in New York.

"Therefore, I have decided to close all three Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg", she added.

Baerbock emphasized that Germany's relations with Iran have "fallen below the lowest point" after the execution of Sharmahdi in Tehran on October 28.

Baerbock said the execution of Sharmahdi shows that the "regime of injustice" in Iran continues to act with brutality. That all 32 employees in the three consulates must leave the country, unless they have German citizenship.

The Iranian embassy in Berlin is not affected by this order.

Iran summoned Germany's charge d'affaires to a meeting in Tehran to protest Germany's "unfair" decision, state media reported on October 31.

Iranian state media said Sharmahd was executed after being convicted of carrying out terrorist attacks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said holding a German passport does not give anyone immunity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joined Baerbock in strongly condemning Sharmahdi's execution, calling it a "scandal" for the Iranian government.

Deputy Special Envoy Abram Paley, from the Office of the US Special Envoy for Iran, welcomed Germany's decision to close three Iranian consulates.

"We stand united with the international community to hold the regime accountable," he said on X, calling Sharmahdi's execution "unjust."

Sharmahd, 69, was accused by Iran of leading a pro-monarchist group that Tehran believes was responsible for a deadly bomb attack in 2008, as well as planning other attacks in the country.

Fourteen Iranians and 210 others were injured in the attack on the Sayyid al-Shuhada Husseiniya mosque in Shiraz, during a ceremony to honor Imam Hussein, the third imam of Shia Muslims.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry accused Sharmahdi of planning the attack, a charge his family dismissed as "ridiculous"./ Rel