The key facts

  • Germany's Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador over alleged plans of assassination attempts against pro-Israel figures
  • A Hamburg court sentenced Danish national Ali Hassan S. to 8.5 years and Afghan national Tawab M. to 4.5 years
  • According to German authorities, Ali Hassan S. received instructions from the Quds Force (a unit of the IRGC); Tehran has previously rejected such accusations

Summons of the Ambassador and Foreign Ministry Statement

Germany on Monday summoned Iran's ambassador, accusing Tehran of planning attacks on supporters of Israel, and condemned the alleged plots 'in the strongest terms.' 'We do not tolerate attacks on Jewish life and on those who protect it — anywhere, and certainly not in Germany,' the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement on social media. Berlin said it is taking active measures against such threats and recalled that it had previously secured the addition of 'the organizers of Iranian assassination plots around the world' and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist list.

Sentences in Hamburg

The summons of the ambassador followed a verdict issued last week by a Hamburg court against two men in a case concerning alleged plots against the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, and the president of the German-Israeli Society, Volker Beck. Danish national Ali Hassan S. received 8.5 years in prison, while his Afghan accomplice Tawab M. received 4.5 years. According to German authorities, the prosecution argued that Ali Hassan S. received instructions from the Quds Force — the unit of the IRGC responsible for operations abroad.

Tehran's Position

Iran has previously rejected accusations of preparing assassination attempts, calling them baseless claims promoted by its enemies.