An Iran official claims Iranian-German prisoner died before he could be executed

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An Iranian official claimed Tuesday that Iranian-German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd died before Tehran could execute him — directly contradicting the country's earlier announcement he had been put to death.

The comment by Asghar Jahangir comes after Germany shut down all three Iranian consulates in the country over Sharmahd's death, leaving only the embassy in Berlin open. Germany later disputed Jahangir's remark.

Even Iranian reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticized Germany's response to Sharmahd's death as tensions remain high between Tehran and the West over its rapidly advancing nuclear program and the ongoing Mideast wars.

The judiciary's Mizan news agency quoted Jahangir as saying, ''Jamshid Sharmahd was sentenced to death, his sentence was ready to be carried out, but he passed away before implementation of the sentence.''

He did not elaborate. Jahangir's remarks were made to the state-affiliated Quds newspaper after a weekly news conference, when journalists typically buttonhole the spokesman into answering questions he didn't take from the podium.

Germany's Foreign Ministry, reacting to the official's comment, said, ''His death was confirmed to us by the Iranian side.''

''Jamshid Sharmahd was abducted by Iran and held for years without a fair trial, in inhumane conditions and without the necessary medical care," the ministry said. ''Iran is responsible for his death."

The State Department in the U.S., where Sharmahd once lived, said ''Sharmahd's death at the hands of the Iranian regime was tragic and senseless.''

''We condemn Iran's deplorable abuse of political prisoners as well as its record pace of executions and will hold the regime accountable for these human rights violations,'' it said in a statement. Iran carried out at least 166 executions in October alone, the most recorded in a single month by the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights since it began tracking executions in 2007.

Jason Poblete, a lawyer representing Sharmahd's family, told The Associated Press that the conflicting comments from Iran were ''deeply concerning.''

''This inconsistency raises serious questions about the circumstances of the death and the transparency of the Iranian system,'' Poblete said. ''The family has been urging the German and U.S. authorities to investigate this matter to ascertain the truth, ensure accountability thoroughly and reunite Jimmy with his family in California.''

Iran had said it executed Sharmahd on Oct. 28. He was 69.

Iran also accused Sharmahd of ''disclosing classified information'' on missile sites of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during a television program in 2017.

His family disputed the allegations and worked for years to seek his freedom. Germany, the U.S. and international rights groups have dismissed Sharmahd's trial as a sham. Amnesty International said the proceedings against Sharmahd were a ''grossly unfair trial'' because he had been denied access to an independent lawyer and ''the right to defend himself.''

However, the group also noted that Sharmahd ran a website for the Kingdom Assembly of Iran and its Tondar militant wing that included claims of ''responsibility for explosions inside Iran,'' though he repeatedly denied being involved in the attacks.

Sharmahd was apparently kidnapped while on a layover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2020. His family received their last message from him on July 28, 2020.

It's unclear how the abduction happened, but tracking data showed that Sharmahd's cellphone traveled south from Dubai to the city of Al Ain on July 29, crossing the border into Oman. On July 30, tracking data showed the phone traveled to the Omani port city of Sohar, where the signal stopped.

In the time since his execution, Germany shut the consulates. It's a diplomatic tool Germany seldom uses and signals a major downgrade in relations with Tehran.

However, Iran has responded by criticizing Germany and the West, including Pezeshkian, who campaigned on a promise of getting sanctions on the Islamic Republic lifted.

''When someone, who has slaughtered dozens, is executed, they say you do not observe human rights,'' Pezeshkian said.

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