Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned Germany's ambassador, Axel Dittmann, in Tehran on Monday to protest what it called repeated baseless accusations, hours after Berlin summoned Iran's ambassador.
Alireza Yousefi, Iran's Assistant Foreign Minister and Director General for Western Europe, received Mr Dittmann, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA and Mehr News Agency.
Mehr reported that Mr Dittmann said he would convey Iran's concerns to the relevant authorities in Germany. Press TV, as reported by the German Press Agency dpa, said Iran expressed its "strong protest" over the "contemptible approach" of certain German officials.
The summons followed a ruling on Thursday by the Hamburg Higher Regional Court. It convicted two men of spying on Jewish and pro-Israel figures in Germany, according to dpa.
The court sentenced a 54-year-old Danish national of Afghan origin, named as Ali Hassan S., to eight and a half years in prison. A 43-year-old Afghan national, named as Tawab M., received four and a half years.
The court found they spied on Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, president of the German-Israeli Society. dpa reported that the court also found the older man prepared an arson attack on a kosher food shop in Berlin.
Prosecutors said the older man took orders from the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Both men were arrested in Denmark last year and extradited to Germany, according to Al Jazeera.
According to AFP-based reports, the presiding judge said the men were guilty of "terrorist activities orchestrated by Iran". Iran International, an opposition outlet, reported that both verdicts can be appealed.
Germany's Foreign Office summoned Iran's ambassador to Berlin, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, earlier on Monday. dpa reported that the Foreign Office confirmed Mr Dittmann's summons that evening.
In a statement on X, the German Foreign Ministry said the "malicious assassination attempts" would have legal consequences. It also said Tehran would not be allowed to "threaten our free society".
The ministry also said Germany would not tolerate attacks on Jewish life or on those who defend it anywhere, especially in Germany, according to Israel National News.
Iran denies any role in the plot. In a statement carried by IRNA, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said attempting to provide a judicial face to baseless political claims undermined the standing of the German judiciary itself.
The statement said levelling security-related accusations against Iran had long been a tactic employed by what it called the Zionist regime and certain Western nations.
According to Iranian outlets Mehr, IRNA and Press TV, Mr Yousefi said the accusations were intended to conceal German support for what he called the "US-Israeli war" against Iran.
The same outlets reported that he said Iran would pursue Germany's responsibility for what he called "war crimes". He also described the European Union's policies as "irresponsible".
Before the verdict, the Iranian embassy in Berlin called the charges "unfounded allegations made at the behest of Iran's enemies", according to Al Jazeera and Arab News.
Iran also summoned Ireland's ambassador, Aidan Cronin, over what it called baseless accusations, dpa reported. Ireland holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Diplomatic summonses between the two countries have been frequent. In July 2025, after the Danish suspect's arrest, Germany summoned Iran's ambassador over alleged involvement of Iranian intelligence, according to Israel National News.
In mid-September, Iran summoned Mr Dittmann over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Press TV said Mr Merz accused Iran of backing regional proxies, pursuing a military nuclear programme and obstructing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Press TV called the claims "false".
Mr Dittmann is Germany's ambassador in Tehran. Mr Nili Ahmadabadi is Iran's ambassador in Berlin. The Hamburg court handled the case on charges brought by the federal prosecutor.
Germany has not announced specific steps beyond saying the attempts would have legal consequences. No further diplomatic measures had been reported, and the verdicts can still be appealed.
