ID :
193035
Tue, 07/05/2011 - 15:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/193035
The shortlink copeid
British Charge d'Affaires Called to FM
TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Britain's Charge d'affaires in Tehran Jane Marriott to protest at London's refusal to extend the validity of the visa of the family of the former Iranian ambassador to Jordan, Nosratollah Tajik, who is currently under house arrest in Britain.
"The foreign ministry invited the British Charge d'affaires in Tehran in this regard, discussed the issue with her and demanded a verification of the case and a proper response," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told reporters on Tuesday.
Mehman-Parast called for the rapid release of Tajik from house arrest, and said that the British government's refusal to extend the visa of Tajik's family has intensified his physical and mental problems.
Tajik was arrested in November 2006 after being accused of trying to purchase night vision goggles from US mediators.
According to the British media, Tajik's arrest came after undercover FBI agents, disguised as international arms dealers, offered to sell him more than £50,000 worth of night vision goggles while secretly filming him.
Tajik and his lawyers argue that the US agents planned to incriminate him from the very beginning, as they were not following a legitimate lead.
At the moment, Tajik, who suffers from a chronic heart condition, faces extradition to the US based on a British High Court ruling.
Iran says that charges raised against Tajik are politically-motivated.
Tajik, a citizen of Coxhoe, Durham County, who completed his diplomatic mission in 2003, retired to England with his family, to finish a PhD course. There he joined the Durham University as an honorary lecturer.
"The foreign ministry invited the British Charge d'affaires in Tehran in this regard, discussed the issue with her and demanded a verification of the case and a proper response," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told reporters on Tuesday.
Mehman-Parast called for the rapid release of Tajik from house arrest, and said that the British government's refusal to extend the visa of Tajik's family has intensified his physical and mental problems.
Tajik was arrested in November 2006 after being accused of trying to purchase night vision goggles from US mediators.
According to the British media, Tajik's arrest came after undercover FBI agents, disguised as international arms dealers, offered to sell him more than £50,000 worth of night vision goggles while secretly filming him.
Tajik and his lawyers argue that the US agents planned to incriminate him from the very beginning, as they were not following a legitimate lead.
At the moment, Tajik, who suffers from a chronic heart condition, faces extradition to the US based on a British High Court ruling.
Iran says that charges raised against Tajik are politically-motivated.
Tajik, a citizen of Coxhoe, Durham County, who completed his diplomatic mission in 2003, retired to England with his family, to finish a PhD course. There he joined the Durham University as an honorary lecturer.
