Iran announced the detention of several foreigners on suspicion of espionage, including Giles Whitaker, the second most important British ambassador in Tehran.
KYIV.UkraineGate. 7 . July . 2022 | World News
Details
In the story of the state television of Iran, footage was made public of a diplomat with his family allegedly taking soil samples in central Iran.
The country’s intelligence agency assures that the samples were taken not far from the place where the missile tests were conducted.
The other two foreigners were identified as the husband of Austria’s cultural attaché in Iran, as well as Maciej Walczak, a university professor in Poland who was said to be visiting Iran as a tourist.
The colleagues allegedly collected soil samples in another area after visiting Iran as part of a scientific exchange program. According to Iranian television, the collection of samples also coincided with a missile test in the southern Iranian province of Kerman.
Whitaker was reportedly expelled from the district after apologizing. Great Britain denied the detention of its diplomat.
According to Reuters, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners in recent years, mostly on espionage and security charges.
Rights groups have accused the Islamic Republic of trying to extract concessions from other countries by arresting them on security charges that may have been fabricated, the agency said.
Addition
Iran and Western countries are trying to revive a 2015 deal under which Tehran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for relief from US, EU and UN economic sanctions. Then US President Donald Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and imposed tough sanctions.
Source: Ukrgate
