Iran expels two German diplomats over ‘interventionist’ actions
Iran's Foreign Ministry ordered the expulsion of two German diplomats after declaring them “persona non grata” over Berlin's interference in the country's "internal and judicial affairs".
The move came a week after Germany expelled two Iranian diplomats in response to the Islamic Republic sentencing to death the ringleader of a U.S.-based terrorist group accused of carrying out terrorist activities against the people of Iran, Press TV reported.
Nasser Kanaani, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday announced that the two German diplomats had been declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave over the Berlin government’s “irresponsible measures and interference in the internal and judicial affairs" of Iran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will act decisively against excessive demands,” Kanaani said as he pointed to the summoning of the German ambassador to Tehran by the Foreign Ministry’s director general of the Western Europe Department to inform him about the decision.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s priority has always been maintaining interaction based on respect, but if some parties intend to ignore the basic standards and national sovereignty of our country, alternative options are inevitable,” he added.
Germany’s Federal Foreign Office announced in a statement last Wednesday that two employees of the Iranian Embassy in Berlin had been expelled from the European country.
The decision was made after the Iranian Judiciary sentenced Iranian citizen Jamshid Sharmahd, who also holds German citizenship, to death on charges of "corruption on earth” by planning and orchestrating terrorist acts against the Islamic Republic.
Germany also summoned Iran's charge d'affaires over the verdict, with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accusing Iran of the “massive violation of the rights of a German citizen.”
Sharmahd, who is also a U.S. resident, was the ringleader of the Tondar (Thunder) terrorist outfit. He was accused of planning a series of attacks, including a 2008 attack against a religious congregation center in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, Fars Province, which killed 14 people and wounded hundreds.