Swiss prosecutor confirms searches in Iran talks spy probe

Swiss authorities have searched multiple premises in relation to an investigation into allegations that hackers had targeted venues which hosted international negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, Attorney General Michael Lauber said on Wednesday.

"We have an open investigation into political espionage in Switzerland," Lauber told a news conference.

His office was analysing data acquired during the searches, he said. An aide said the premsies searched were hotels.

Russian computer security company Kaspersky Lab said earlier this month a computer virus had been used to hack into hotels used to host talks between Iran and six world powers.

Kaspersky said it had found the software in three European hotels. The suspected virus infections were linked to events and venues related to the negotiations between six world powers -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- and Iran on curbing Tehran's nuclear programme.

The talks have been held in Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Munich and Vienna.

Lauber declined to comment on who might be involved in the hacking.

Israel, which is worried that an eventual deal may not allay its concerns over Iran's nuclear capabilty, last week dismissed as baseless reports that it may have had a connection to the matter.