Iranian National Jailed in Germany Returns Home: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi said an Iranian national who had been detained in Germany under the pretext of violating Washington’s cruel sanctions has been released and returned home.
In a statement on Monday, Mousavi said Ahmad Khalili, the Iranian citizen, was freed on Sunday night following intensive diplomatic efforts and thanks to the effective cooperation of the Iranian Judiciary and the IRGC Intelligence Organization.
He had been detained in Germany on the pretext of breaching the illegal and cruel sanctions of the US and upon the request of the Washington regime's prosecutor, and was on verge of extradition to the US, the spokesman added.
He has returned to Iran accompanying Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Mousavi said.
The development came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Tehran and Washington after the US forces in Iraq assassinated Iran’s revered commander Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
General Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was the deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha'abi (PMU), and a number of their entourage were killed in a strike by American drones near Baghdad International Airport on January 3.
The White House and the Pentagon claimed responsibility for the assassination of General Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump.
In the early hours of January 8, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted the US airbase of Ain al-Assad in retaliation for the US move.
