Germany Closes Iranian Consulates After Execution

Germany has decided to close all three Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich in response to the execution of German-Iranian dual national Jamshid Sharmahd, which has marked a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned Iran for the execution, labeling it a 'murder' and called for EU-wide sanctions against those involved. The closure of the consulates, affecting 32 Iranian officials, comes after Germany's ambassador to Iran was withdrawn and diplomatic tensions escalated following Sharmahd's controversial trial and execution on terrorism charges. The Iranian embassy in Berlin will remain operational, but Germany's response indicates a harsher stance than seen in previous diplomatic disputes, such as the closure of Russian consulates following the invasion of Ukraine. Baerbock accused the Iranian regime of using hostages as political tools and emphasized ongoing efforts to secure the release of other detained German nationals. The situation has raised concerns about potential retaliatory measures from Iran.