UK Arrests Another Iranian on Politically-Motivated Accusations
LONDON (Dispatches) –
British authorities have arrested another Iranian national over accusations of planning to target the Israeli embassy in London.
The 31-year-old suspect was taken into custody at an address in northwest London on Friday morning, police said.
It comes after three other Iranian men, aged 39, 44, and 55, were detained at addresses in the British capital on Saturday and four others at locations elsewhere across England.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has categorically rejected the accusations.
In a post on X on Thursday, he said Tehran has not been informed of any allegations via proper diplomatic channels.
“We are seeing stories in the media that Iranian nationals are allegedly involved in a supposed plot to target the Israeli embassy in London,” he wrote.
“Iran in no uncertain terms categorically rejects any involvement in such actions and confirms that we have not been informed of any allegations via proper diplomatic channels.”
Araghchi said there is a history of third parties bent on derailing diplomacy and provoking escalation, resorting to desperate measures, including false flag operations, apparently referring to Israel.
Iran, he said, stands ready to engage to shed light on what has truly transpired. “We reiterate that UK authorities should afford our citizens due process,” he added.
In April, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned as “baseless and unjust” accusations leveled by Britain that the Islamic Republic was connected with certain criminal groups in Europe.
Baghaei said attributing the actions of certain groups to Iran is a clear blame game meant to cover up Britain’s own destabilizing activities, particularly in West Asia.
The spokesman said London repeated its unfounded claims without any evidence despite Tehran’s calls for the UK to provide proof supporting its allegations.