Tehran summons British diplomat over arrests of Iranian nationals in UK

Iran has summoned the British chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest the recent detention of several Iranian nationals in the United Kingdom, calling the arrests “suspicious” and “unjustified.”

The head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Third Western European Department conveyed the Islamic Republic’s strong objection to the arrests and what it described as unfounded accusations against the detained individuals, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

The official criticised the UK’s actions as a violation of international legal norms and human rights standards, stating that the detainees were held without evidence and were denied consular access.

The Iranian official emphasised that the British government is fully responsible for the consequences of such actions, which appear to be politically motivated to put pressure on Iran.

For the record, UK authorities arrested four Iranian men on May 17: a 29-year-old in Swindon, Wiltshire; a 46-year-old in west London; another 29-year-old in Stockport, Greater Manchester; and a 40-year-old in Rochdale. All four were released the same day after police secured “various warrants of further detention.”

A fifth man, a 24-year-old arrested earlier in Manchester under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, was released on bail with conditions and is due to appear later in May.

British police said searches are ongoing at multiple locations in Greater Manchester, London, Swindon, and High Wycombe as part of the investigation.

By Khagan Isayev