Iran Executes German-Iranian Dissident Who Lived in California

Latest Developments

Tehran executed Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian dual national who lived in Los Angeles for some two decades, Iranian state media reported on October 28. Iranian security forces kidnapped Sharmahd in 2020 during a visit to Dubai on the way to India for a business deal related to his software company and smuggled him to Iran. The regime falsely accused him of supporting a 2008 act of terrorism. An Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced Sharmahd to death in 2023 on charges of “corruption on earth” after a trial devoid of due process.

“The U.S. condemns Iran’s execution of German-Iranian Jamshid Sharmahd, the latest case in the regime’s history of transnational repression and disregard of human rights,” said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on X. “We stand with Germany, the Sharmahd family, and the international community to hold the regime accountable.” In response to the execution, Germany recalled its ambassador from Iran. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X that Berlin “made it crystal clear to Tehran time and again that the execution of a German national would have severe consequences.” However, it remains unclear what those consequences will entail.

Expert Analysis

“Germany has been a leader in resisting a maximum pressure approach to the Islamic Republic and has never pushed for the snapback of UN sanctions on Iran. Perhaps Berlin will now wake up and realize that appeasement policies will not spare German citizens from the brutality of the regime in Tehran. If Germany wants severe consequences, the options have been available for years: EU designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, UN snapback, and support for maximum economic pressure.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“Condolences by Western political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic about the killing of Mr. Sharmahd are too little, too late. As are their condemnations of the Islamic Republic. Both Washington and European nations conducted hostage deals with Tehran during the time Mr. Sharmahd was a hostage of the Ayatollahs despite his citizenship status. He was simply left behind. While there is time for a course correction in American and European policy toward the Islamic Republic, they are both starting in the red because of this regime’s ability to engage in kidnapping, hostage taking, and murder of foreign nationals without consequence.” — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow

“The Biden administration’s rhetoric condemning Iran for its execution of Jamshid Sharmahd is appropriate. However, such statements are meaningless in the absence of action. Iran’s killing of a U.S. resident indicates that Tehran has no fear of America, which has failed to enforce sanctions on Iran for the past four years. That needs to change. The United States must resume maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic while advancing maximum support for the Iranian people.” — Tzvi Kahn, FDD Research Fellow and Senior Editor

Related Analysis

“Germany Closes Islamic Center Due to Iran and Hezbollah Ties,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran’s Abduction of EU Diplomat Adds to Troubling Trend of Hostage Taking,” FDD Flash Brief

“Ten Reasons Why the Hostage Deal with Tehran Is a Disaster,” by Saeed Ghasseminejad