As the German government attempts to find ways to facilitate the entry of Iranian nationals despite the ongoing crisis, authorities stated that no concrete timeline can yet be given for the reopening of the German Embassy’s visa services in Tehran. This information was released by the Foreign Office in a response to Boris Mijatovic, a human rights expert from the Green faction, as reported by “Der Spiegel”.
A State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Bernhard Kotsch, confirmed that applications already submitted by students and employees are being processed by the German Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia. Furthermore, the government plans to expand processing capabilities in Yerevan wherever possible, intending to also accept new applications there.
However, Mijatovic welcomed these efforts while strongly criticizing them for Iranian individuals fleeing the regime. He pointed out that the journey to Yerevan is both long and potentially dangerous. He stressed that the German government must do more to ensure the safety of these affected people while simultaneously establishing an efficient and streamlined application process.
According to Mijatovic’s report to “Der Spiegel”, a pervasive sense of neglect and distrust in German reliability remains among those on the ground, even among German institutions. He noted the critical situation of students, academics, and young professionals who have been living in an existential, and sometimes life-threatening, state of uncertainty for months. The Green party expert also added that German companies and universities are growing increasingly frustrated with the apparent lack of pace shown by the Federal Government.