Lammy summons Iran's ambassador over spying arrests
David Lammy has summoned the Iranian ambassador to be 'held accountable' after three Iranian nationals were charged with spying in the UK.
Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 55, appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Saturday charged with spying offences.
They were originally arrested as part of a counter-terrorism investigation and held under the National Security Act 2023.
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'Today, upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Kingdom was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
'His Excellency Seyed Ali Mousavi was summoned in response to three Iranian nationals charged under the National Security Act,' they said.
'The UK Government is clear that protecting national security remains our top priority and Iran must be held accountable for its actions.
'The summons follows this weekend's announcement which stated that three Iranian nationals had been charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service.'
It comes after the British chargé d'affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry on Sunday over what the regime said were 'false claims' about the arrests.
'The responsibility for the inappropriate effects of such actions, which appear to be motivated by political motives to exert pressure on Iran, will lie with the British government,' state media quoted a foreign ministry official as saying.
A fourth man arrested as part of the counter-terror probe was released without charge on Thursday.
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