‘Suspicious and unwarranted’ arrests of Iranians come amid lingering tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and the fallout of Russia-Ukraine warfare.
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs has summoned the UK’s cost d’affaires over what it known as “suspicious and unwarranted” arrests of a number of Iranian nationals.
The UK earlier this month accused a number of Iranian nationals of offences with out providing proof, wilfully kept away from informing Iran’s embassy in time, and prevented consular entry opposite to worldwide norms, the ministry mentioned in an announcement issued late on Sunday, based on state media.
It additionally accused the British authorities of harbouring “political motivations to exert stress on Iran” with the arrests.
The diplomatic spat comes two days after British police charged three Iranians with suspected espionage for Iran’s intelligence companies beneath the nation’s Nationwide Safety Act of 2023.
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, had been accused of conduct more likely to help a overseas intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025.
They appeared earlier than a Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on Saturday, the place they had been additionally charged with participating in surveillance and reconnaissance with the intention of committing or supporting severe violence in opposition to an individual within the UK.
Their circumstances had been referred to a central prison court docket, and the following listening to is scheduled for early June.
The three are amongst eight people arrested in Could, including seven Iranians, as a part of two separate operations which Dwelling Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned had been a few of the largest investigations of their sort lately.
The 4 different Iranians had been arrested as a part of a “counterterrorism” operation, with investigations ongoing. The eighth man was launched with out cost final week.
In a said effort in direction of enhancing nationwide safety in opposition to covert overseas influences, the UK has positioned Iran on its highest tier beneath the Overseas Affect Registration Scheme (FIRS).
Strained ties
The arrests come amid strained ties between Iran and three European powers over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The UK, France and Germany have repeatedly criticised Iran for a purported lack of cooperation with the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) to make sure that Iran’s nuclear programme stays peaceable.
The trio, branded the E3 within the context of the negotiations, had been social gathering to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, which the USA unilaterally deserted in 2018.
Nonetheless, the US has reopened talks with Tehran in a bid to safe a brand new deal, and amid 4 rounds of talks mediated by Oman, Iran has emphasised it’s open to holding more talks with the E3 as nicely.
Senior diplomats from the 2 sides gathered on Friday in Turkiye’s Istanbul for his or her first assembly for the reason that nuclear talks with Washington commenced final month. Either side confused a dedication to continued diplomacy, however there was no breakthrough.
Moderately, Iran has repeatedly warned that there will likely be “severe ramifications” if the E3 push to invoke the “snapback” mechanism of the comatose 2015 nuclear deal, which might reinstate the United Nations Safety Council sanctions that had been lifted as a part of the landmark accord.
Tehran and Washington have additionally did not see eye to eye thus far relating to enrichment of uranium, with Iran reiterating on Monday that it’s going to not again down from its right to have a civilian nuclear programme.
After US Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff mentioned President Donald Trump’s administration wouldn’t enable Iran to complement uranium even to 1 p.c, Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned “unrealistic” calls for would solely result in a useless finish.
The E3 can be involved about quite a few experiences that Iran has been arming Russia for its war in Ukraine, accusations that Tehran denies.
Talking to reporters on Monday, Overseas Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei mentioned Tehran has but to obtain a written proposal from the US to advance to a fifth spherical of negotiations, which is anticipated quickly.
He additionally mentioned Iran has not proposed a joint enrichment enterprise with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, however backs such an effort.
“The West Asia area, and particularly international locations of the Persian Gulf, could more and more require nuclear vitality and to construct energy vegetation requiring nuclear gas, so it gained’t be unhealthy if nuclear gas amenities or consortiums are created in our area so everybody can spend money on them.”
