Iran has summoned the British charge d’affaires in Tehran to its foreign ministry after the arrest of several Iranian nationals for alleged terrorism and espionage plots.
State media reported the British diplomat was summoned on Sunday to give an explanation for the arrests over what it said were “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 foreign ministry official as saying.
Four Iranian men were arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation earlier this month. All four were being held under the National Security Act 2023.
Three of the men – Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55 – appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday charged with spying offences.
The fourth man was released without charge on Thursday.
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In a separate operation earlier this month, counter-terror officers arrested five men – also Iranian nationals – during raids at various locations in Greater Manchester, London, Rochdale and Swindon.
They were released from custody on Saturday, but still face an investigation.
The Metropolitan Police said those arrests related to a “suspected plot to target a specific premises”.
Police said the two counter-terror operations were not connected.