Iran accuses Berlin of emotional response over death sentence

Tehran has accused the German government of an emotional response after renewed criticism of a death sentence passed against a German-Iranian man, reported dpa.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not ask anyone's permission to act against terrorism and enforce justice against terrorists," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Thursday, according to a statement from his ministry.

He went on to describe the criticism as a "clear sign of support for terror." Instead, he said, Iran expected mutual respect and the avoidance of an emotional response.

On Wednesday, the Iranian Supreme Court confirmed the controversial death sentence against Jamshid Sharmahd, who has dual Iranian/German citizenship.

Formally, nothing now stands in the way of the execution of the sentence.

In February, a revolutionary court had held the 68-year-old responsible for a terrorist attack, among other things.

Family members and human rights activists called the accusations baseless and criticised the trial as grossly unfair.

Germany has been demanding an immediate reversal of the sentence.