Iran says Iranian-German Sharmahd died before execution; Berlin blames Iran for death

Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd died before his execution, which was announced by Tehran late last month, Iran’s judiciary said on Tuesday, according to state media.

State media initially reported the execution of Sharmahd on Oct. 28, following his sentencing to death by Iran’s judiciary in 2023 for carrying out “terrorist attacks.”

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“Jamshid Sharmahd died before the execution of his death sentence,” judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said, without providing additional information.

In response, a German foreign ministry official said Iran was responsible for Sharmahd’s death.

“Jamshid Sharmahd was abducted by Iran and detained for years without a fair trial, in inhumane conditions and without the necessary medical care. Iran is responsible for his death,” the German official said on Tuesday.

His daughter Gazelle Sharmahd, on X, had demanded proof of his execution and called for the immediate return of her father.

Sharmahd’s death exacerbated a diplomatic rift between Tehran and Berlin, with the German authorities closing Iranian consulates across Germany.

Iranian authorities said Sharmahd had headed a pro-monarchist group accused of a deadly 2008 bombing and planning other attacks in the country.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Iran of playing politics with hostages and of trying to use Germany’s support for Israel in the widening Middle East conflict to justify Sharmahd’s killing.

With Reuters

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