52 People Including Several European Citizens Arrested in Iran on Espionage Charges

It has been reported that officials from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence have arrested 52 people on espionage charges. Among those detained are one Iranian-American, two French citizens, one German citizen, and one citizen from the Czech Republic.

Nazar Zak, a Lebanese citizen with permanent U.S. residency who himself was held hostage in Iran for more than four years and was recently released, announced this news in an exclusive interview with Voice of America, stating that these 52 detained individuals have been transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

Mr. Zak, emphasizing that the arrested European citizens do not even hold dual nationality, said regarding the detained Iranian-American citizen that this person was arrested approximately four and a half months ago and is currently held in the general ward of Evin Prison alongside cellmates Kamran Ghaderi and Shahab Dalili.

Addressing Federica Mogherini, the head of the European Union’s foreign policy, Nazar Zak said: “I want to see what position Ms. Mogherini takes now.”

Western analysts say the Islamic Republic uses dual-nationality individuals as hostages to extract money and concessions from Western governments. Currently, several American citizens—including Xiyue Wang, Siamak and Baquer Namazi, and Michael White—are imprisoned in Iran.

There is also no information about the fate of Robert Levinson, another American citizen who disappeared in Iran more than twelve years ago.

The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned the arbitrary and unlawful detention of American citizens and citizens of other countries, including dual-national Iranians, by the Islamic Republic regime and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.

Source: Voice of America