German Foreign Ministry Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Plot Targeting Jewish Leaders
The German Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador to Berlin on Monday following a court ruling that uncovered an Iranian-directed assassination plot against prominent Jewish figures in Germany. The diplomatic action comes just days after a German court sentenced two men for planning attacks on Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, chairman of the German-Israeli Society.
Foreign Ministry officials stated that Berlin will not tolerate threats against Jewish life or those who defend it. “The malicious attempted attacks against Josef Schuster and Volker Beck will have legal consequences,” the ministry wrote on X, according to Reuters reporting. The German government also reiterated its previous calls for the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Court Convictions Detail the Berlin Assassination Plot
The diplomatic summons follows a court ruling handed down four days prior, in which a German court sentenced two men to prison terms of up to eight and a half years. Judges concluded that one of the defendants acted under the direct instruction of Iranian intelligence services to target German-Jewish community leaders.
A Danish national identified by court records as Ali S. received a sentence of eight years and six months for preparing an assassination and committing aggravated arson. The court established that S. received orders in early 2025 to gather intelligence on Schuster and Beck, alongside instructions to conduct surveillance on two Jewish grocery stores located in Berlin. A second defendant, an Afghan national identified as Tawab M., received a four-year-and-six-month sentence for his role in the conspiracy. German federal prosecutors formally charged both men in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Iranian ambassador summoned to the German Foreign Ministry?
The German government summoned the ambassador in direct response to a court case revealing that Iranian intelligence directed a plot to assassinate Josef Schuster and Volker Beck. The ministry stated that Germany refuses to tolerate foreign-backed threats against its free society or its Jewish community.
Who were the targets of the planned attacks in Germany?
The targeted individuals were Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, chairman of the German-Israeli Society. Court documents also showed that the plotters surveilled two Jewish grocers operating in Berlin.
What sentences did the courts hand down to the convicted men?
A German court sentenced a Danish national, Ali S., to eight years and six months in prison for preparing an assassination and aggravated arson. An Afghan national, Tawab M., received a sentence of four years and six months for his involvement in the conspiracy.