Baerbock said Germany's ambassador to Iran had cut short a business trip and was rushed back to Tehran to intervene with authorities. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani accused Germany of "interfering in Iran's internal and judicial affairs," and said "Iran will not ask permission from anyone in the way of confronting terrorism and executing justice.” Sharmahd, 68, had been living in the United States, where he served as the spokesperson for Tondar, a group that aims to restore the Western-backed monarchy that ruled Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.