Jannidi: Follow-ups in the Ministry of Intelligence Regarding European Claims Have Been Made

Laya Jannidi, the legal advisor to the President of the Islamic Republic, states that despite Tehran's 'request' for the extradition of an Iranian diplomat arrested in Germany, Berlin has not agreed to this request. Jannidi refers to Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who worked at the Iranian embassy in Vienna. Mr. Assadi was arrested on July 1 of this year (July 10) in connection with a joint investigation in Germany, Belgium, and France regarding the 'bombing' case at a meeting of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization in Paris, in Bavaria, Germany. Although the Islamic Republic has denied the allegations and demanded the release of its diplomat, a court in Germany agreed to extradite him to Belgium, and according to the federal prosecutor's office in that country, Assadollah Assadi was handed over to Belgium on October 9 and is set to be tried in Brussels. Jannidi stated that 'Iran has requested the extradition of this diplomat, but Germany has not agreed to extradite him.' She noted, 'They claim that this individual was on a mission for Iran, while our Foreign Ministry has denied that this diplomat was on a mission for his country.' The legal advisor to Hassan Rouhani stated that the Foreign Ministry 'clearly emphasizes that the act itself did not occur by this diplomat.' Jannidi mentioned that 'the European Union claims that it has found evidence in its investigations regarding this matter,' adding that 'this issue is not at all confirmed by the Iranian government.' According to her, 'Despite this, the government has conducted follow-ups in the Ministry of Intelligence based on the alleged claims of the Europeans.' The advisor to Hassan Rouhani did not mention the outcome of these follow-ups in the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence. The investigations and allegations against Assadi relate to the 'bombing' plan at the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization's conference on July 1. He is accused of having ordered a couple residing in Antwerp, Belgium, to 'attack' this conference. This couple was arrested in Brussels while carrying 500 grams of a very powerful explosive, acetone peroxide, along with a detonator. The police suspect Assadi in the transfer of these explosives to this couple. The news agency of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization introduced Mr. Assadi as the 'head of the intelligence station' at the Iranian embassy in Vienna and stated that he had issued the 'final order for the attack' on the July 1 gathering. Tehran has denied the allegations. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, while demanding the release of its diplomat, stated that 'given the existing documents and evidence, the role of the adversaries, ill-wishers, and known destructive elements in designing this ridiculous show is clear.' The French government has frozen assets belonging to Iranian intelligence services and two Iranian citizens, including Mr. Assadi, in response to the 'attack plan against the Mojahedin-e Khalq conference.' Simultaneously, the French ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Economy issued a joint statement, referring to the 'attack plan,' stating that 'this action is extremely serious and cannot be left unanswered.' The Danish Foreign Minister also announced on January 8 that the European Union had agreed to impose sanctions against one of Iran's intelligence agencies due to 'planning a murder on European soil.' In addition to Assadi, Saeed Hashemi-Moghadam, the Deputy Minister of Intelligence of Iran, is also accused of having ordered the bombing at the gathering of Iranian opponents in the suburbs of Paris. However, one day after Denmark announced the new EU sanctions against an Iranian intelligence agency and these two Iranian individuals, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry threatened the European Union with 'reciprocal action.'