Iranian diplomat jailed in Belgium to be freed in swap deal over Belgian spy: Judiciary

The spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary says an Iranian diplomat who has been illegally imprisoned in Belgium will soon be released in a prisoner swap, after the two sides finalized a swap deal over a Belgian spy.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Massoud Setayeshi said Tehran has made a request regarding the transfer of Assadollah Assadi after the Belgian side submitted a request for the exchange of a prisoner detained in Iran.

An agreement between Iran and Belgium has been finalized, he said, adding that the agreement came after both Belgium and Iran asked for a prisoner swap.

In February 2021, a Belgian court sentenced Assadi to 20 years in prison after accusing him of planning an alleged attack against the Mujahedin-e-Khalq terrorists (MKO).

Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the jail term as completely unlawful at the time, saying it is in violation of Assadi’s diplomatic immunity, and a result of Belgium’s falling under the influence of the MKO.

Back in March, Belgium’s Constitutional Court turned down a request for the annulment of a treaty with Iran, which authorizes the exchange of prisoners between the countries.

SS