Iran summons Belgium envoy after diplomat Assadi jailed over terrorism
Iran on Tuesday summoned Belgium’s ambassador to Tehran in protest after a court in Antwerp jailed one of its diplomats for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing in neighboring France.
Assadollah Assadi, 49, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars on Thursday after being convicted of attempted murder of a “terrorist” nature and “participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”
He denies the charges.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The Iranian foreign ministry said it had summoned the Belgian ambassador in Tehran “to convey the strong protest of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the illegal decision of the court in Antwerp concerning our diplomat Assadollah Assadi.”
“The Belgian government has also been called upon to take measures for the immediate release of Assadi” and “to respect human rights standards,” it added.

Three Belgians of Iranian origin were given jail sentences of between 15 and 18 years and stripped of their Belgian nationality in the trial, which further poisoned already tense relations between Tehran and European capitals.
The Islamic republic had warned ahead of the trial that it would not recognize the outcome, saying the procedure initiated by the Belgian justice system was “not legitimate” as Assadi enjoyed diplomatic immunity.
Read more:
Germany arrests Iranian diplomat after Belgium foils terror plot in France
Iranian diplomat extradited to Belgium to face trial in ‘bomb plot’
-
China-Iran relations a threat to ‘free world,’ says US State Dept official
A US State Department official has warned that warming China-Iran relations pose a threat to the “free world” as China works to expand its presence in ... World News -
US official: No Iran deal without freeing detained US citizens
No agreement should ever be struck with Iran without its freeing all unjustly detained US citizens, a senior US official said on Monday as Washington ... Middle East -
Iran responsible for attempted bomb attack on opposition group in France: Lawyer
Iran is responsible for the attempted bomb attack by a diplomat and several others at an event held by an exiled Iranian opposition group in France in ... Middle East -
Iran's spy chief says Tehran could seek nuclear arms if 'cornered' by West
Iran’s intelligence minister said persistent Western pressure could push Tehran to fight back like a "cornered cat" and seek nuclear weapons, which ... Middle East