Germany to Close All Iranian Consulates After Execution of Dual Citizen
Germany will close all three of its Iranian consulates in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian national, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
Charges: In July 2020, Sharmahd was abducted while traveling through the United Arab Emirates. He was held in Iran and sentenced to death for unsubstantiated accusations of terrorist activity.
His execution on Monday elicited outrage across Europe, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calling it a “scandal.”
Consequences: The 32 Iranian consulate employees will no longer be allowed to live in Germany unless they are German citizens. The German ambassador to Iran left the country on Wednesday, returning to Germany. Currently, the Iranian Embassy in Berlin will remain open.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described relations as being at an “all-time low.”
Germany is delivering on its promise of “serious consequences” and appears to be looking to further pressure the Iranian regime. Germany says it will seek European Union-wide sanctions on those involved in Sharmahd’s execution, including against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It has also committed to securing the release of other Germans being held in Iran.
Pushback: The Bible prophesies of a German-led European power bloc responding suddenly and violently to the provocations of radical Islam led by Iran. This is why the Trumpet closely watches as Germany intensifies its response to Iran’s pushes.
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