DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian official claimed Tuesday that Iranian-German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd died before Tehran could execute him — directly contradicting the country’s earlier announcement he had been put to death.

The rare step of closing the consulates reflected German protests over the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, an outspoken opponent of the Iranian regime.

Germany has protested to Iran over the execution of Iranian German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces.

Iranian German Jamshid Sharmahd died before Tehran executed him, Iranian official claims — contradicting the country's announcement he had been put to death.

Iran’s judiciary has said Iranian-German dissident Jamshid Sharmahd died before his execution was reported by state media late last month. The judiciary’s news agency said on 28 October that Sharmahd - who was sentenced to death on the charge of "corruption on Earth” in 2023 following a trial that human rights groups said was grossly unfair - had been “punished for his actions”.

Iranian official claims Iranian-German prisoner died before he could be put to death; Iran earlier said it executed him