Iran, Germany feud over Tehran’s execution of a dual national

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday rejected criticism by Germany over Tehran’s execution of dual national Jamshid Sharmahd, saying that a European passport does not guarantee freedom from punishment.

“No terrorist enjoys impunity in Iran. Even if supported by Germany,” the foreign ministry announced, resharing a post on X by Minister Abbas Araghchi.

He defended the use of capital punishment for Sharmahd, who was executed in Iran on Monday on charges of "corruption on Earth" and “leading terror operations,” according to state media. 

“A German passport does not provide impunity to anyone…” Iran’s foreign ministry added, stating that Sharmahd led an attack on a mosque in 2008 that killed 14 people and injured 200.

Sharmahd, 69, was a German journalist of Iranian descent who was sentenced to death in February 2023. He was accused of heading a pro-monarchist group responsible for the bombing. Tehran does not recognize dual citizenship.

Germany’s foreign ministry in the “strongest possible terms” protested the Iranian regime’s execution, recalling its ambassador to Tehran and Iran’s envoy to Berlin on Tuesday.

“Our ambassador in Tehran today delivered a demarche to the Iranian Foreign Minister and protested in the strongest possible terms against the murder of Jamshid Sharmahd,” read a post  on X by Germany’s foreign office. 

“We have conveyed our strong protest against the actions of the regime and reserve the right to take further action,” the post added.

Sharmahd was abducted from Dubai in July 2020 by agents of the ministry of intelligence and was taken to Iran, Amnesty International reported the following month.

The European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell also condemned the execution.

Iran executed at least 853 people in 2023, Amnesty reported in a research report published in April, adding that it was the highest recorded total for Iran since 2015.