Head of Iran Section in European Parliament: The Brutality of the Iranian Regime Must Have Consequences

Hanna Neumann, head of the Iran section in the European Parliament, reacted on Thursday, November 1, to the closure of three consulates of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Germany by Olaf Scholz's government, stating: 'The regime's brutality must have consequences, and it does.' Neumann, who is also a member of the German Green Party, emphasized that the next step is to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. She added that we need unity from all EU member states on this issue. The German Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it would close all consulates of the Islamic Republic in Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg, while the embassy in Berlin will remain open. This is the latest action by Germany following the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, a dual Iranian-German citizen, by the Islamic Republic on Monday, October 30. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday, November 1, that Mr. Sharmad's execution has created 'severe' tension in bilateral relations between Berlin and Tehran. Also see: German Foreign Minister responds to Zarif's statement: We are dealing with a repressive regime. Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, also stated on Thursday that Jamshid Sharmad, who resided in the United States, was 'abducted' and taken to Iran, where he was 'imprisoned for years without a fair trial.' Referring to a recent statement by Abbas Araqchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, who defended the execution of Jamshid Sharmad in Iran, she linked his killing to the Islamic Republic's 'extortion,' saying: 'This regime primarily uses the language of extortion, threats, and violence. Even the recent statements by the Iranian Foreign Minister, which framed the brutal killing of Jamshid Sharmad within the context of Germany's support for Israel, speak for themselves.' The German Foreign Minister stated: 'We have repeatedly made it clear to Tehran that the execution of a German citizen will have serious consequences.' She added: 'His (Sharmad's) murder by the Iranian regime emphasizes that this repressive regime continues to act with utmost ruthlessness, even after recent changes at its helm.' Baerbock's reference was to the rise of Masoud Pezeshkian as the new head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic. Baerbock emphasized that the German embassy in Tehran, her government officials in Berlin, and she personally have been 'relentlessly' working for the release of Jamshid Sharmad. The German Foreign Minister stated that the Islamic Republic knew how important the issue of German prisoners was for the German government, and she had raised this issue in her discussions with the Iranian Foreign Minister in New York last month, which formed a significant part of her negotiations with Araqchi. She said: 'The fact that this murder occurred following recent developments in the Middle East indicates that a repressive dictatorship like the clerical regime does not operate within the framework of normal diplomatic logic.' In recent days, Germany has summoned its ambassador from Iran in protest against the execution of Jamshid Sharmad. Also see: The US welcomes Germany's protest against the execution of Jamshid Sharmad. Meanwhile, Abram Pili, deputy special representative of the US State Department for Iran, welcomed Germany's decision to close the Islamic Republic's consulates in protest against the 'unjust execution' of Jamshid Sharmad. Mr. Pili emphasized on social media platform 'X': 'We are united with the international community to hold the regime [Iran] accountable.' In this context, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad in a brief statement on social media platform X, declaring that the EU is considering measures in response to this action. Mr. Borrell wrote: 'Jamshid Sharmad, a citizen of the European Union in Iran, was executed. We condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms.' The EU's foreign policy chief emphasized that 'the EU is strongly opposed to the death penalty at any time and under any circumstances' and added: 'We share in the grief of the family and loved ones and express our solidarity with the German government, with whom we are in contact.' Josep Borrell also announced that the EU is 'considering measures' in response to this action by the Islamic Republic. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic announced on Monday the execution of this political activist. Jamshid Sharmad, 68, a German citizen with permanent residency in the United States, was abducted by the intelligence forces of the Islamic Republic in the United Arab Emirates in the summer of 2020 and forcibly transferred to Iran. After a trial that the international community deems 'fabricated,' he was sentenced to death on charges of 'corruption on earth.' A spokesperson for the US State Department emphasized in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmad that the Islamic Republic executes Iranians solely for exercising their fundamental human rights. Matthew Miller stated on Monday in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmad by the Islamic Republic: 'The Iranian government executes its citizens in response to their exercise of fundamental human rights.' He emphasized: 'The execution of prisoners by the Islamic Republic is a fundamental violation of their human rights, and the US has repeatedly stated its opposition to it.' Meanwhile, news agencies in Iran reported that the German chargé d'affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in protest against what they claimed was the 'unjust decision of the German Foreign Minister to deprive Iranian citizens residing in Germany of consular services.' The closure of all consular offices of the Islamic Republic in Germany is in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmad. Ghazaleh Sharmad, in an interview with Voice of America, called for accountability from the governments of Iran, Germany, and the US regarding her father's fate. The closure of all consular offices of the Islamic Republic in Germany is in response to the execution of Sharmad. Amnesty International condemned the execution of Jamshid Sharmad by the Islamic Republic. Josep Borrell: 'We condemn the killing of Jamshid Sharmad in the strongest terms.' Following the execution of Jamshid Sharmad, Germany recalled its ambassador from Iran.