Execution of Jamshid Sharmad; Germany recalls its ambassador from Tehran and summons Iran's chargé d'affaires

Germany, in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, a German-American citizen, recalled its ambassador from Tehran and summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Berlin. Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, on Tuesday, November 8, after a clear condemnation of Mr. Sharmad's execution, recalled the ambassador from Iran. The German Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X that "we have expressed our strongest objections to the actions of the Iranian regime and reserve the right to take further action." The post also stated that "the German ambassador in Tehran went to the Iranian Foreign Ministry and condemned the murder of Jamshid Sharmad in the strongest terms," adding that Annalena Baerbock then summoned the ambassador for consultations in Berlin. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced on Monday the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, who had been kidnapped in Dubai and transferred to Iran. This action faced severe condemnation from Germany and the United States. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, published a statement from the Tehran prosecutor's office on Monday, November 7, claiming that Jamshid Sharmad had played a role in "designing multiple terrorist operations," one of which was the "bombing and explosion at the Seyyed al-Shuhada Hosseiniyeh in Shiraz." In 1399, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence accused Mr. Sharmad of designing this explosion. In the explosion on April 24, 2008, 14 people were killed. Mr. Sharmad's family deemed this accusation "ridiculous" and denied it. Hours after the announcement of the execution of this German-American citizen, Germany's Foreign Minister stated: "The execution of Jamshid Sharmad once again shows what kind of inhumane regime rules in Tehran; a regime that uses (the death penalty) against its youth, its people, and foreign citizens." Ms. Baerbock added that Berlin had repeatedly made it clear to the Islamic Republic that "the execution of a German citizen would have serious consequences." The German Foreign Minister pointed out that under the government of Masoud Pezeshkian, "the prominent reality is that no one is safe even in the new government." Abram Pili, Deputy Special Representative of the United States for Iran, also called the execution of Mr. Sharmad "the latest heinous act in the long history of the Iranian regime's transnational repression." Mr. Pili wrote on X: "Sharmad should never have been imprisoned in the first place. His kidnapping and transfer to Iran, as well as the sham trial and reports of his torture, were heinous." This American official emphasized that Washington would continue its efforts to hold the Iranian regime accountable in conjunction with the international community. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also strongly condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad on Tuesday, stating: "The European Union is considering actions in response to this act." A spokesperson for the European Commission also emphasized that any "action" against Iran would require consultation and agreement among all EU member states. Meanwhile, Abbas Araqchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on X regarding the execution of Jamshid Sharmad that having a "German passport" does not grant immunity to anyone, accusing Mr. Sharmad of killing 14 people and injuring 200 in a "terrorist" attack on a Hosseiniyeh. The Iranian Foreign Minister also addressed Annalena Baerbock, saying that Iran has not forgotten the chemical weapons provided to Saddam's regime by German nationals. Mr. Araqchi also called the German government the second supplier of deadly weapons in the "genocide" of Israel in Gaza and Lebanon and an accomplice of Israel. Meanwhile, Ghazaleh Sharmad, the daughter of this German-American citizen, demanded proof of her father's death and described his executioners as "cowardly jihadists of the occupying regime," calling for their punishment. On November 8, she published a picture of herself on her X account, expressing her protest against the news of her father's execution while holding the Kaveh the Blacksmith's symbol and tying her hair. She criticized the governments of Germany and the United States, stating: "Since an American-German citizen has been brutally and shamelessly kidnapped, tortured, and held hostage for four years and [if confirmed] killed by the largest terrorist organization in the world in retaliation for Israel's attacks on the regime, the Islamic Republic must immediately face serious consequences for its actions." Ms. Sharmad also stated that "the governments of Germany and the United States must declare whether there is evidence that the 'cowardly jihadists of the occupying regime' killed my father out of fear?" The daughter of Jamshid Sharmad also demanded evidence confirming the news of her father's execution, stating: "His family does not want any statement of condolence or any statement that does not include the immediate return of my father (dead or alive) and the severe punishment of the killers of the Islamic regime." She emphasized that if the news of her father's execution is confirmed with tangible evidence, his body should not remain hostage to the "killers of the Islamic regime" and must be immediately returned home to rest peacefully according to the customs of Zoroastrians in Iran. Official media and security agencies of the Islamic Republic introduced this dual national as the head of the "Tondar" group, a media outlet associated with the Iranian Monarchist Association in the United States. Jamshid Sharmad was accused of "corruption on earth" in the courts of the Islamic Republic and was sentenced to "execution" by the Tehran Revolutionary Court two and a half years after being kidnapped and transferred to Iran in Esfand 1401. The Iranian judiciary announced in Ordibehesht 1402 that the execution order of Jamshid Sharmad was confirmed by the Supreme Court. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, strongly condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, calling it a "scandal" for the Iranian government. Mr. Scholz wrote on X: "Jamshid Sharmad was not even given the opportunity to defend himself against these accusations during the trial." He further reminded that the federal government of Germany launched extensive campaigns in defense of Jamshid Sharmad. The Chancellor of Germany ultimately expressed condolences to Mr. Sharmad's family. Ghazaleh Sharmad, Mr. Sharmad's daughter, had called for immediate action from the United States and Germany to save her father's life last summer. This dual national had resided in the United States for years. The Tehran prosecutor's statement further claimed that Mr. Sharmad was affiliated with Western, American, and Israeli intelligence organizations. The German Foreign Minister had previously stated that Jamshid Sharmad had not been afforded fair trial conditions at any point, and the Islamic Republic must immediately revoke its arbitrary execution sentence against him. According to Jamshid Sharmad's family, he had been living in Los Angeles, USA, since 1381 and was kidnapped by the security forces of the Islamic Republic in Dubai during a trip to the United Arab Emirates in Mordad 1399 and transferred to Iran. The Islamic Republic has a long history of detaining and imprisoning dual nationals and dissidents residing abroad. However, in recent years, at least in two cases involving Rouhollah Zam and Habib Asyoud, in addition to their abduction from Iraq and Turkey, these two individuals were executed.