The months-long tensions between Tehran and Berlin have reached a new phase with both sides resorting to diplomatic action.

Tehran, Iran – Iran has expelled two German diplomats in retaliation for a similar move by Berlin last week.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a brief statement Wednesday that two unnamed diplomats have been designated as persona non grata as a result of the recent “drastic and irresponsible measures” taken by the German government.

“The priority of the Islamic Republic of Iran is always to maintain cooperation in an atmosphere of respect, but if other parties want to ignore the fundamental principles and national governance of our country, then it is inevitable to define new options,” he said. he added that the German ambassador has been informed after being summoned.

The move comes days after the German foreign ministry expelled two diplomats from the Iranian embassy in Berlin in response to Tehran’s sentencing of an Iranian-German man.

Jamshid Sharmahd, who also lived in the United States, was convicted of “corruption on earth” by an Iranian court, which carries the death penalty.

Iran said Sharmahd was the leader of a US-based “terrorist group” responsible for a 2008 bombing of a mosque that killed 14 people and injured hundreds. Sharmahd and the pro-monarchist group, which operates television channels abroad that support Iranian opposition groups, were also found guilty by the Iranian court of launching several other attacks and planning more “terrorist” operations across Iran.

Sharmahd’s family have maintained he is innocent, adding that he was last heard from from Dubai shortly before he appeared in an Iranian state television video showing him in custody. Germany had condemned his conviction as “unacceptable” and called for his release.

Tehran and Berlin are also increasingly at odds over the protests that erupted across Iran in September over the death of a woman in vice squad custody. Iran has repeatedly condemned Germany for interfering in its internal affairs over its support of the protests and criticism of the Iranian state’s response to the demonstrators.