Germany says it will close all three Iranian consulates after execution of dual national

Germany will close all three of its Iranian consulates in response to the execution of a German-Iranian national, but the Iranian embassy in Berlin will remain open, the German Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

"Our diplomatic relations are already more than at a low point," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated during an event in New York.

The decision follows the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, who was convicted of orchestrating terrorist attacks. Germany has already recalled its ambassador to Iran and summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires to express its protest.

Baerbock condemned Iran for politicising hostage situations and accused Tehran of using Germany's support for Israel amid the escalating Middle East conflict to justify Sharmahd’s execution. "Further Germans are also being unfairly held. We are deeply committed to them and continue to work tirelessly for their release," she added.

Human rights organisation HAWAR welcomed Germany's decision to close the consulates but urged the government to intensify efforts to secure the release of another German citizen, Nahid Taghavi, 70, who has been detained in Iran since October 2020.

"The Federal Government’s lack of planning in dealing with the hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran must finally come to an end," the organisation stated.

Additionally, Baerbock called on the European Union to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.