Iran summons UK diplomat over nationals’ arrest

Shafaq News/ Iran’s Foreign Ministry
summoned the British chargé d’affaires in Tehran in protest over the recent
arrest of Iranian nationals in the UK, accusing London of making politically
motivated allegations, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

Earlier this month, British
authorities detained seven Iranian nationals in two separate operations. Three
of them were charged last week with engaging in conduct “likely to assist a
foreign intelligence service,” in reference to Iran. The suspects remain in
custody pending a preliminary court hearing scheduled for June 6. The remaining
four have been released but remain under investigation.

Iranian officials demanded a formal
explanation from the British envoy regarding the arrests, including
clarification on the legal grounds and justification for the charges.

A Foreign Ministry source, cited by
state media, warned that “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.”

The summoning comes amid heightened
scrutiny of Iran’s presence in the UK, where the British government has placed
Tehran on the top tier of its Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, requiring
full disclosure of efforts to allegedly influence UK political processes.