Tehran's "strong protest" to three European countries over the arrest of Iranian diplomat
Iran's Foreign Ministry announced that it had summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Belgium and France to protest the Mojahedin meeting and the arrest of an Iranian diplomat. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Germany and France will extradite an Iranian diplomat and another Iranian arrested on charges of attempting to bomb a meeting of the People's Mojahedin (MEK) to Belgium.
Bahram Qasemi, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Wednesday, July 3, that the ambassadors of France, Belgium, and the German chargé d'affaires (in the ambassador's absence) have been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to protest the arrest of an Iranian diplomat and the meeting of the People's Mojahedin Organization.
According to him, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has expressed Iran's strong protest to the German chargé d'affaires and the French ambassador.
Mr. Araghchi called this case a "scenario" to destroy the relationship between Iran and Europe and said that this case is reminiscent of the self-immolation of members of the People's Mojahedin Organization (MEK) during the arrest of the organization's leader, Maryam Rajavi, in Paris.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added that the ministry's director general for Europe has also conveyed Tehran's objections to the request to transfer the Iranian diplomat from Germany to the Belgian ambassador.
Diplomat Asadollah Asadi was arrested on Sunday near the city of Aschaffenburg in the German state of Bavaria. His arrest followed the arrest of an Iranian couple who were found to have half a kilogram of explosives in their car and are being investigated in Belgium.
Belgium has requested the diplomat's extradition from Germany. Another Iranian has been arrested in France on suspicion of involvement in the attack.
Meanwhile, Reuters news agency reported, citing unnamed French and German judicial sources, that the Iranian arrested in France and the Iranian diplomat detained in Germany will be extradited to Belgium.
A European intelligence official also told Reuters: "This is an extremely sensitive issue and the Belgians are taking the case forward."
Reuters adds that French officials have declined to comment on the case because, they say, the nature of the incident is unclear.
French authorities have not yet responded to Reuters' request to summon their ambassador.
On Wednesday, the Austrian Chancellor also called on the Iranian President to cooperate with the Austrian government for “complete transparency” regarding the alleged involvement of an Iranian diplomat in the attempted bombing of a meeting of the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK). Austria has revoked Assadollah Assadi’s diplomatic immunity.
Source: Radio Farda
