Summary:
- Iran has closed two Goethe-Institut offices in Tehran, accusing them of violating local laws and financial misconduct.
- This action follows Germany’s recent closure of an Islamic center in Hamburg with alleged ties to Hezbollah and Iran.
- The move reflects heightened diplomatic tensions between Iran and Germany.
On August 20, 2024, Iran shut down two offices of the Goethe-Institut, a German government-funded cultural organization, accusing them of breaching Iranian laws and engaging in financial misconduct. The closure of these centers, announced by Iran’s judiciary, comes nearly a month after Germany took action against the Hamburg Islamic Centre for its alleged support of Hezbollah and its connections to Iran.
Iran’s judiciary, through its Mizan Online website, described the Goethe-Institut branches as “illegal centers” that had committed numerous violations. The decision to close the offices is part of a broader investigation into other German-affiliated centers in Iran, which are now under scrutiny.
The closure of the Goethe-Institut offices follows Germany’s ban on the Hamburg Islamic Centre on July 24, which Berlin accused of being an Islamist extremist organization pursuing anti-constitutional aims. In response, Iran condemned Germany’s actions as “hostile” and an example of “Islamophobia,” further straining diplomatic relations between the two countries.