Iran Agents Sentenced for Plotting to Kill German Jewish Leader and Politician

Two assassins hired by Iran to murder Josef Schuster, Chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Volker Beck, President of the German-Israeli Society, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. The German Foreign Office summoned the Iranian ambassador following the convictions, which stemmed from a plot orchestrated by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The ministry also issued a strong condemnation on X, stating, "We condemn Iran's activities in the strongest possible terms." Critics argue that Germany's response was too lenient, with some suggesting that even minor offenses like illegal parking carry harsher penalties than state-sponsored assassination plots. Elio Adler, chairman of the Werteinitiative, expressed disbelief at the mild reaction, calling for the expulsion of all Iranian diplomats and the closure of the Iranian embassy, leaving only a caretaker. The Werteinitiative has long warned that the Iranian regime targets Jews, Israelis, and Iranian exiles in Germany. The recent convictions in Hamburg on October 15, 2026, for preparing Iranian-directed attacks underscore the concrete nature of this threat, according to the group. The regime aims to silence opponents, exact revenge, and demonstrate power, compelling those who speak out against it or support Israel to remain silent. Jewish representatives, institutions, and their supporters require protection to prevent them from abandoning their public engagement or distancing themselves from Jewish organizations due to fear of Iranian terror. Davood Hosseini, chairman of the Essen-based association Woman, Life, Freedom, echoed these concerns, noting that the threat from Iranian intelligence services in Germany has reached a new level. He believes the regime views the increasing networking between Iranian exile opposition and Jewish communities as an acute threat. Hosseini advocates for closing Iranian diplomatic missions and targeting proxy networks from countries like Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Iraq, asserting that this would protect Jewish life and Iranian dissidents. The American Jewish Committee Berlin (AJC) recognizes the Iranian regime's long-standing efforts to sow fear within Jewish communities and destabilize Western democracies. Annina Fichtner, Acting Director of AJC Berlin, stated that the danger of Iranian-regime-directed attacks against Jewish institutions and pro-Israel individuals remains significant, though several plots have fortunately been thwarted. She emphasized the need for consistent enforcement of existing national bans against Iranian-backed terror organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. Maral Salmassi, founder of the Zera Institute, which addresses threats to democracy from antisemitism, proposes significantly reducing Iran's diplomatic presence in Germany, leaving only a minimal channel open for communication regarding Germans imprisoned in Iran. Salmassi also suggests that security authorities should focus on organized crime, where the regime allegedly recruits perpetrators, citing the low cost of hiring petty criminals for assassination attempts. She described the Revolutionary Guard as essentially a mafia and stressed the need for consistent, reliable protection for Jewish institutions, pro-Israel individuals, and Iranian opposition figures, not just during escalations. Salmassi also criticized the exclusion of Volker Beck as a co-plaintiff in the Hamburg trial, despite being a target of the assassination plot.