Posted on 05/05/2007 3:43:23 PM PDT by blam
Iran's nuclear negotiator 'spied'
By Frances Harrison
BBC News, Tehran
Mr Mousavian was a top nuclear negotiator in talks with Europe
A former top Iranian nuclear negotiator arrested on Monday is to be charged with spying, Iran's conservative Fars news agency has suggested.
It quotes an unnamed source saying that Hossein Mousavian is to be charged with espionage relating to nuclear affairs.
Tehran's public prosecutor has confirmed that Mr Mousavian is being held in prison.
Mr Mousavian, an ex-envoy to Germany, was a member of Iran's negotiating team with Europe in the last government.
Fars quotes the source saying that Mr Mousavian is to be charged in a Revolutionary court.
Earlier, the Tehran public prosecutor told the Iranian media that the charges against Mr Mousavian would only be announced once the investigation was finished and the final verdict given.
He said the intelligence ministry was dealing with the case.
One website close to the president, Raja News, has quoted an informed source alleging Mr Mousavian was spying for Germany.
What has shocked many Iranians is that Mr Mousavian is an establishment figure, not a reformist or critic of the Islamic system, and yet he is now behind bars.
Because Mr Mousavian is close to former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, some have suggested the arrest could also be connected to a power struggle within the establishment.
Right.
The Germans are dying to get ahold of 1943 technology.
It’s more likely he was telling the Germans how far along the program really is and what the intentions of the Iranian government really are. Now ask yourself why he would do such a thing. He’s probably concerned because he knows they are nuts and plan to actually use nuclear weapons the minute they get them.
What is the motivation of the Iranian regime here? If he were really a dangerous spy from their point of view, wouldn’t he just disappear without a sound? Doesn’t publicizing this call attention to their nuclear program? If that is what they want, why? Perhaps to extort more concessions/bribes from the outside world?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.