Closure of All Consular Offices of the Islamic Republic in Germany in Response to the Execution of Sharmeh

On Thursday, November 1, the German Foreign Ministry announced that it would close all consular offices of the Islamic Republic in Germany, while the embassy would remain open. This is the latest action by Germany against the Iranian government following the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh, a dual Iranian-German citizen, by the Islamic Republic on Monday. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday that the execution of Mr. Sharmeh has created 'severe' tension in bilateral relations between Berlin and Tehran. In recent days, Germany has summoned its ambassador from Iran in protest of the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh and has summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Islamic Republic's embassy in Berlin to express its objection. Ghazaleh Sharmeh, Jamshid Sharmeh's daughter, has called for 'punishment for the murderers' of her father. In an interview with Voice of America, Ghazaleh Sharmeh stated, 'We will not rest, and if the news is true, we will hold all those responsible for my father's murder accountable.' In this context, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh, calling it a 'murder' and announced that the EU is considering measures in response to this action. Borrell wrote in his message: 'Jamshid Sharmeh, a citizen of the European Union in Iran, has been executed. We condemn his murder in the strongest possible terms.' The EU foreign policy chief emphasized that 'the EU is firmly opposed to the death penalty at any time and under any circumstances' and expressed solidarity with the German government, with whom they are in contact. The Iranian judiciary announced the execution of this political activist on Monday. Jamshid Sharmeh, 68, a German citizen with permanent residency in the United States, was abducted by Iranian intelligence forces in the UAE in summer 2020 and forcibly transferred to Iran. After a trial deemed 'fabricated' by the international community, he was sentenced to death on charges of 'corruption on earth.' A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department emphasized that the Islamic Republic executes Iranians solely for exercising their fundamental human rights. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated on Monday, November 7, in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh, that 'the Iranian government executes its citizens in response to their exercise of fundamental human rights.' Mr. Miller emphasized: 'The execution of prisoners by the Islamic Republic is a fundamental violation of their human rights, and the U.S. has repeatedly stated its opposition to it.' Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, in response to a request from Voice of America for a comment on the execution of Jamshid Sharmeh by the Islamic Republic, said that 'the killing' of a German citizen has serious consequences.