HADI SOLEYMANPOUR REMAINS IN PRISON
LONDON, 29 Aug. (IPS) Iran’s former ambassador to Argentine, Mr. Hadi Soleymanpour has again been remanded in custody in London over his alleged participation in the explosion of a Jewish Centre in Buenos Aires in July 1994, killing 85 people and wounding 300 others
Mr. Soleymanpour, 47, is one of eight Iranian officials wanted by Judge Juan Jose Galeano to face charges for the explosion, the country's worst ever terror attack.
He was arrested on 21 August in Durham, northern England, where he is studying at the city’s university after Mr. Galeano issued an international warrant two weeks earlier.
Brought to London the day after, he was refused bail at Bow Street Magistrates court at an extradition hearing and will appear for a further hearing on 19 September.
The arrest damaged newly normalised relations between London and Tehran, with the Iranians warning that if he is not released "immediately", Britain’s ambassador to Iran might be expelled in retaliation.
According to Iranian authorities, the arrests of Mr. Soleymanpour as well as the charges against the Islamic Republic for the explosion are "politically motivated" and "plots" from "Zionist circles" in Argentine and Israel.
Tehran protested to both London and Buenos Aires, warning the Argentine charge d’affairs in Iran that it would cut all cultural and lucrative economic ties with the cash-hungry Latin American nation, an important exporter of wheat, meat and other cereals to the Islamic Republic.
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami demanded last week his release and an apology from the UK government, stating that Iran would do everything to secure the ex-diplomats release from prison.
Mr. Jack Straw, the British Foreign Affairs Secretary, in telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi and in meeting with an Iranian deputy Foreign Affairs Minister has explained that the case has nothing to do with the government and hoped that the incident would not affect good relations between the two countries.
However, it is unclear why Mr. Soleymanpour did not left Britain after Judge Galeano issued his warrant that also includes Hojjatoleslam Ali Fallahian, then Iran’s Intelligence Minister and Hojjatoleslam Mohsen Rabbani, the cultural attaché at the time of the terrorist attack.
Another diplomat, Mr. Sa’id Bagban had been briefly detained in Brussels on Tuesday, but released on diplomatic immunity.
A 500,000 British Pound bail offered by the Iranian government and a further 200.000 from family and friends were turned down by the Court, despite threats that Iran might withdraw some of its diplomats, but not its ambassador to London.
District judge Christopher Pratt said the serious nature of the charges, and the diplomatic sensitivity of the case, meant bail would be refused, according to the BBC.
About 50 protesters, mainly allied to the National Council of Resistance of Iran – which has been declared outlaw in the United States - demonstrated outside the court demanding Mr Soleymanpour's extradition.
They shouted "one last terrorist out of the UK" and unfurled a banner reading "It is time to bring Mullah's regime to justice for 450 terrorist attacks", as the ex-envoy entered the court.
ENDS DIPLOMAT ARRESTED 29803