German Ambassador Leaves Iran Following Execution of Jamshid Sharmad

On Wednesday, November 1, the German Foreign Ministry announced that its ambassador in Tehran has left Iran following the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, a German-Iranian citizen. According to the German news agency, Markus Potzel, the German ambassador to Iran, has been called back to Berlin for 'consultation' to protest the execution of Mr. Sharmad 'in the strongest terms.' A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated that Iran should have expected 'immediate action' and added, 'We will see how long this situation will continue.' The spokesperson further noted that the 'killing' of a German citizen is a 'tense thread' in relations with Iran, which are already at their lowest point. The German Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by its European partners, who have also condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad. According to the spokesperson, it is clear that this will have 'serious consequences for EU-Iran relations. Targeted and significant actions are being considered that are now being pursued jointly.' He added that 'of course, we will also discuss sanctions.' The Iranian judiciary announced on October 29 the execution of Jamshid Sharmad on charges of 'designing multiple terrorist operations,' one of which was the bombing and explosion at the Seyyed al-Shuhada Hosseiniyeh in Shiraz in April 2008. The German government, relatives, and human rights activists have strongly rejected the accusations against this German-Iranian citizen. The execution of Mr. Sharmad has provoked anger from the German and American governments, and the German ambassador in Tehran protested the implementation of this sentence, which was issued last year, during his visit to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, called back the ambassador from Iran on November 1 after explicitly condemning the execution of Mr. Sharmad. She also stated, 'The execution of Jamshid Sharmad once again shows what kind of inhumane government rules in Tehran; a government 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.' Abram Paley, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, also described the execution of Mr. Sharmad as 'the latest heinous act in the long history of the Iranian regime's transnational repression.' Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad on November 1, stating that 'the European Union is considering actions in response to this act.'