Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Germany's ambassador, Axel Dittmann, in a tit-for-tat diplomatic move following Berlin's summoning of Iran's envoy. The action comes after a court in Hamburg convicted two men of plotting to assassinate leaders of German Jewish organizations, allegations that Tehran has vehemently denied, labeling them "baseless political allegations."

Germany had summoned Iran's Ambassador Majid Nili Ahmadabadi on Monday, accusing Tehran of orchestrating the plot. The German Foreign Ministry stated on X that Iran would not be permitted to "threaten our free society" and that "malicious assassination attempts against Josef Schuster and Volker Beck will have legal consequences." The ministry emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for attacks on Jewish life and its defenders in Germany.

The convictions stem from a Hamburg court's ruling on Thursday, which found a Danish national and an Afghan national guilty of planning to target the president of Germany's main Jewish community group and the head of the German-Israeli society. The court determined that Iran's intelligence service had steered the two men, who were arrested in Denmark last year and subsequently extradited.

In its statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry asserted that "levelling security-related accusations against Iran has long been a tactic employed by the Zionist regime and certain Western nations." The ministry further argued that attempting to legitimize "baseless political claims" through judicial proceedings not only fails to add credibility but also diminishes the standing of the German judiciary.

The Danish national, identified in court documents as Ali Hassan S, received an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence, while his Afghan accomplice was sentenced to four-and-a-half years. The judge presiding over the case declared the men guilty of "terrorist activities orchestrated by Iran."

At the time of their initial charges, the Iranian embassy in Berlin had issued a statement refuting the allegations, calling them "unfounded allegations made at the behest of Iran’s enemies."

This diplomatic exchange highlights the ongoing tensions and mutual accusations between Iran and Western nations regarding alleged state-sponsored activities. The German government's firm stance underscores its commitment to protecting Jewish life and institutions within its borders.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the full extent of Iran's alleged involvement and the specific evidence presented in the Hamburg court proceedings that led to the judge's conclusion of Iranian orchestration.