Iran has summoned the British cost d’affaires in Tehran to its international ministry after the arrest of a number of Iranian nationals for alleged terrorism and espionage plots.
State media reported the British diplomat was summoned on Sunday to explain the arrests over what it stated had been “false claims”.
“The responsibility for the inappropriate effects of such actions, which appear to be motivated by political motives to exert pressure on Iran, will lie with the British government,” state media quoted a international ministry official as saying.
4 Iranian males had been arrested as a part of a counter-terrorism investigation earlier this month. All 4 had been being held beneath the Nationwide Safety Act 2023.
Three of the boys – Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55 – appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on Saturday charged with spying offences.
The fourth man was launched with out cost on Thursday.
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In a separate operation earlier this month, counter-terror officers arrested 5 males – additionally Iranian nationals – throughout raids at numerous areas in Better Manchester, London, Rochdale and Swindon.
They had been launched from custody on Saturday, however nonetheless face an investigation.
The Metropolitan Police stated these arrests associated to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.
Police stated the 2 counter-terror operations weren’t linked.