Germany summons Iran’s ambassador after court convicts two men over plots to kill Jewish and pro-Israel leaders

Germany summoned Iran’s ambassador on Monday after a Hamburg court convicted two men over plans to kill prominent Jewish and pro-Israel figures in Germany, with judges finding that one of the defendants had been recruited by Iranian intelligence.

“We do not tolerate attacks on Jewish life or on those who defend it — not anywhere, and certainly not in Germany,” the German Foreign Ministry said on X on October 19.

The ministry said the attempted attacks against Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, president of the German-Israeli Society, would have legal consequences.

“We condemn Iran’s activities in the strongest possible terms. We will not allow Iran to threaten our free society,” the ministry said, adding that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Office.

The diplomatic move came four days after the Hamburg Higher Regional Court sentenced a Danish national previously identified as Ali S. to eight years and six months in prison for preparing an assassination and aggravated arson.

The court said it was convinced that he had been recruited by Iran’s intelligence service and integrated into it to carry out what judges described as state-sponsored terrorist activities in Germany under Iranian direction.

A second man, previously identified as Afghan national Tawab M., was sentenced to four years and six months for his role in the plot.

According to the court, Ali S. was tasked in early 2025 with gathering information on Schuster and Beck and was also instructed to spy on two Jewish grocery-store owners in Berlin. Prosecutors said he received orders from members of the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran has previously rejected German accusations linking Tehran to plots against Jewish and pro-Israel figures in Europe.