Austria Revokes Diplomatic Immunity of Arrested Iranian Diplomat

The Austrian government is revoking the diplomatic immunity of an Iranian diplomat who was arrested on charges of involvement in a bombing plot at a meeting of the People's Mujahedin of Iran. This decision was made one day before Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's trip to Austria. The Austrian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, July 2, that 'the diplomatic immunity of this Iranian diplomat will be revoked within 48 hours due to a European arrest warrant.' The Austrian Foreign Ministry also stated that on Monday, it summoned the Iranian ambassador regarding the arrest of this Iranian diplomat. The Austrian government, by summoning the Iranian ambassador in Vienna, officially requested Tehran to lift the diplomatic immunity of this diplomat. The Belgian prosecutor's office announced on Monday that two individuals of Iranian descent were arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on a National Council of Resistance conference in Paris, which was held on Saturday, July 1, in the suburbs of Paris. Concurrently with the announcement of the arrest of this couple, the Belgian federal prosecutor's office also stated that an Iranian diplomat in Germany was arrested for his connection with them. This diplomat has been identified as 'Asadollah A.', 47 years old. Meanwhile, AFP reported that, while referring to Iran's past 'terrorist' activities in Europe and other parts of the world, French diplomats and security officials are acting 'very cautiously' regarding this issue, and many have refrained from speaking with the agency due to the 'extreme sensitivity' of the case and the 'uncertainty' surrounding it. The timing of this event is also considered significant, coinciding with Hassan Rouhani's trip to Europe to preserve the JCPOA. In response to the arrest of the diplomat, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday that the People's Mujahedin of Iran 'after failing in their annual meeting and to compensate for their failure to gain political support for their inhumane and anti-Iranian objectives, and considering the successful trip of the Islamic Republic of Iran's president to two European countries, have planned and executed another scenario to influence this European trip and to undermine Iran's position and that of Iranians in the eyes of European public opinion at this critical juncture.' Bahram Qasemi added: 'The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated that it condemns and rejects any form of violence and terrorist action anywhere in the world. According to available information, the individuals arrested in Belgium are known and operational members of that terrorist organization, and relevant Iranian authorities are ready to cooperate by providing necessary documents and evidence to clarify the true dimensions of this pre-designed scenario by the aforementioned group.' The People's Mujahedin of Iran has not yet responded to these accusations from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.