German FM rejects Iran's 'interventionist' complaints

Germany's foreign minister on Friday rejected complaints by her Iranian counterpart she was taking an "interventionist" stance over protests in Iran and pushed back against his pledge of a "firm" response.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote in a tweet addressed to Germany's Annalena Baerbock on Thursday that "provocative, interventionist and undiplomatic stances don't signal sophistication and wisdom."

His comments followed a speech to the German parliament by Baerbock on Wednesday in which she said Berlin won't let up in pursuing further sanctions against Tehran over its crackdown on protests.

She said Germany also is working to secure a special meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council on Iran.

Asked on Friday about Amirabdollahian's comments, Baerbock said the issue of human rights and their observance "is not a national matter but a universal one."

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis added the EU would be considering further sanctions against Iran next week.