Germany Closes Iranian Consulates After Execution

Germany has announced the closure of all three Iranian consulates in the country in response to the execution of German-Iranian dual national Jamshid Sharmahd, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that relations with Iran have reached an 'all-time low', emphasizing that the execution demonstrated the Iranian regime's brutality. The closures affect consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, while the embassy in Berlin will remain operational. Baerbock condemned Iran for leveraging hostages politically and has called for EU-wide sanctions against those involved in Sharmahd's execution. Iranian officials have denounced the closures as unjust and summoned Germany's charge d'affaires in Tehran. Germany has also urged its citizens to leave Iran to avoid potential hostage situations, reflecting heightened concerns for their safety.