Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, in a meeting with French ambassador to Tehran and German charge d'affaires, expressed Iran’s strong protest against the arrest of an Iranian diplomat, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the diplomat while stressing the immunity of diplomatic missions under Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The diplomat has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a foiled attack on an MKO gathering in Paris.
Araghchi said the ploy was orchestrated in line with the objectives of US and the Israeli regime, aimed at undermining Iran and Europe’s relations as it coincided with President Rouhani’s visit to Austria and Switzerland, and ahead of the JCPOA joint commission’s meeting between Iran and 4+1 group of countries on Friday.
The Iranian deputy minister noted the evidence of the culpability of the anti-Iran terror organization Mujaheding-e- Khalq (MKO) in orchestrating such a “farcical show”, adding that “the move brings to mind the self-immolation of members of MKO in Europe several years ago, and once again proves the terrorist nature of this trivial group whose members are even ready to set themselves on fire and self-harm to appear significant.”
On the same note, the Belgian ambassador to Tehran was also summoned to the Foreign Ministry and received Iran’s protest against calls that the diplomat in question be transferred from Germany to Belgium.
The French and Belgian ambassadors, as well as the German charge d'affaires, for their parts, said they would immediately convey Iran’s protest to their respective countries.
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