Iran “
firmly
”
denounced
Thursday, February 4, the conviction of an Iranian diplomat to the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison by a Belgian court for having planned an attack against a rally of opponents from Tehran in France in 2018.
Read also: Belgium: an Iranian diplomat sentenced to 20 years in prison for a planned attack in France
"
The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the announcement by a court in Antwerp, Belgium, that Mr. Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat from our country, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison,
" the spokesperson said. word of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saïd Khatibzadeh, estimating that "
the judicial process and the verdict
" are "
illegal and in flagrant violation of international law
".
Assadi, 49, who denies the facts, was being prosecuted for "
terrorist assassination attempts
" and "
participation in the activities of a terrorist group
".
He was absent when the judgment was pronounced.
"
Unfortunately, Belgium and some European countries, under the hostile influence of the terrorist group of monaféqines (Hypocrites in Persian, term by which Tehran qualifies the People's Mojahedin) in Europe, have taken such an illegal and unjustifiable measure
", added Khatibzadeh.
Three Belgian accomplices of Iranian origin were sentenced to terms ranging from 15 to 18 years in prison as well as forfeiture of their Belgian nationality.
This dossier, mixing espionage and terrorism, has sparked diplomatic tensions between Tehran and several European capitals, including Paris.
The Islamic Republic had warned ahead of the judgment that it would not recognize it, affirming that the procedure initiated by the Belgian justice was "
not legitimate, because of the diplomatic immunity
" of Assadi.