Iranian police cars are seen outside a branch of Germany’s Das Deutsche Sprachinstitut Teheran (DSIT) - the German Language Institute Tehran - formerly known as Goethe Institute, in Tehran, Iran, on August 20, 2024. (Photo by Mizan news agency)

Iranian police forces have closed down two branches of illegal centers affiliated with the German government in the capital Tehran.

Mizan news agency, affiliated with the country’s judiciary, said judicial authorities ordered the closure of two branches of Germany’s Das Deutsche Sprachinstitut Teheran (DSIT) - the German Language Institute Tehran - located in separate Tehran neighborhoods, for breaching Iran’s law, committing various illegal actions and extensive financial violations.

The report also said the judiciary had received reports of violations by other centers linked to Germany and would investigate the possible infractions.

A report by Nournews website, which is close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), published a photo of police forces taking down the sign showcasing the establishment’s name.

Formerly called the Goethe Institute, DSIT is managed by the Germany Embassy in the Iranian capital.

The Goethe Institute opened its first branch in Iran in 1958, but was closed in 1987 following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The institute resumed operations in 1995 under a new name - DSIT - but it continued to be referred to locally as Goethe Institute.

In July, Germany banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) and subsidiary organisations according to the interior ministry.

The ministry said the IZH had acted as a direct representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sought to bring about an Islamic revolution in Germany.

Following the closure of the IZH, Iran summoned the German ambassador in Tehran.