EU eyeing measures against Tehran over execution of German-Iranian

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 17, 2022.
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 17, 2022.

The European Union announced it is considering targeted and significant measures against Iran following the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German citizen and US resident, who was hanged this week.

In a statement on Tuesday, the EU condemned in the strongest terms the execution of the German-Iranian national and expressed its full solidarity with Germany. Similar remarks were made by European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on his X account on Tuesday.

“The European Union reiterates its call on Iran to end the distressing practice of detaining foreign civilians and dual nationals with a view to making political gains,” read the statement by the EU.

Iran executed the 68-year-old dissident who was a software developer and California resident on Monday. He was abducted by Iranian agents during a visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2020 and forcibly taken to Iran. In February 2023, the Iranian judiciary sentenced him to death on charges of endangering national security.

On Tuesday, Germany recalled its ambassador to Iran and summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires. Several German officials, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, spoke out against the killing, a move that prompted Iran to react and defend the execution.

The ambassador left Iran on Wednesday morning, said a German foreign ministry spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the execution of Sharmahd has put "extreme" strain on the relationship between Berlin and Tehran.

The Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry summoned German Ambassador Markus Potzel over what the ministry called Berlin’s meddling in Iran’s internal affairs.

Jamshid Sharmahd and his daughter Gazelle
Jamshid Sharmahd and his daughter Gazelle

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the announcement on X, saying, “How about 'an EU measure' to end the killing of more than 50k Palestinians in Gaza? How about 'an EU measure' to allow 1.5 million refugees in Lebanon to return to their homes? How about 'an EU measure' to support the families of those killed by Jamshid Sharmahd?”

“If not, Europe only stands for hypocrisy,” the foreign minister added.

Sharmahd was convicted of heading a pro-monarchist group named Tondar accused of a deadly bombing incident that occurred in 2008 at a religious center in Shiraz, killing 14 and injuring 215 more. The accusation, repeatedly denied by Sharmahd, was never substantiated by documented evidence. He was denied a fair trial and due process, as most other political prisoners, especially dual nationals.

“Iranian restrictions on consular access to our citizens, the denial of consular protection and fair trial are not acceptable and stand in direct violation of international law,” the EU noted in its statement.

The EU also slammed the high number of executions in Iran. "The European Union reaffirms its strong and unequivocal opposition to the use of death penalty at all times, in all places and in all circumstances, especially taking into account the alarming increase in executions recorded in Iran last year and this year."

Iran conducted the most executions of any country in the world after China last year, Amnesty said in a report in May, adding that nearly 75% of all executions worldwide in 2023 outside China were in Iran. The recent wave of executions brings the total number of hangings in Iran this year to more than 567, including 20 women, according to rights groups.