Iran to make U.S. "regret" detention of Iranians-FM
TEHRAN, June 12 (Reuters) - Iran will make the United States "regret" its detention of five Iranians in Iraq since early this year, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday.
Iran says the five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January are diplomats and has demanded their release. U.S. officials say they were involved in supporting militants inside Iraq.
Iran says the five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January are diplomats and has demanded their release. U.S. officials say they were involved in supporting militants inside Iraq.
"We will make the Americans regret their ugly and illegal action against the Islamic Republic of Iran's consulate in Arbil, Iraq, and the abduction of the five Iranian diplomats," Mottaki said, according to the state broadcaster's Web site.
Is this the price for Haleh Esfandiari's and the rest of hostages' freedom?
TEHRAN -- An Iranian judge will next week decide whether to indict or free three American-Iranians accused of acting against national security, a judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday. Alireza Jamshidi said preliminary investigations would be finalized in two or three days. "Next week the judge will decide whether to free them or to indict them," he added. Jamshidi denied that one of the detainees, academic Haleh Esfandiari, had been prevented from gaining access to her lawyer, Iranian Nobel Peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi. "She (Ebadi) can come right now and take on the case," the judiciary spokesman told a news conference, after being asked to comment on Ebadi's statement on Monday that her client was unable to contact her.
ABF, for the promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran
3 comments:
Is this the price for Haleh Esfandiari's and the rest of hostages' freedom?
I think this is exactly what's going on.
I insist that they be indicted. If Iran releases them, they should be indicted in US federal courts for engaging in espionage in a foreign country, which is illegal under US law as well. Then, we can subpoena the Iranian authorities involved in their detention and prosecution in Iran, to present evidence against them. If they don't appear, we can charge them with false arrest and imprisonment of US nationals, and a host of other crimes. And convict them. In absentia.
Enough is enough.
And as for the 5 Pasdaran "diplomats" caught in Iraq, they are spies by definition and should be so charged. And if convicted, sentence should be carried out immediately. To avoid further hostage taking incidents.
No more brushing this stuff under the rug. Lets get it all out in the open, and hold people accountable.
Craig: I couldn't agree more. In fact, I propose those either with Green Card or Dual Citizenship who choose to legitimize the regime by going to Iran every year or who have gone to Iran every other year for the past ten years should be regarded as supporters of the regime...A bit harsh, you think?;)
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