Iranian diplomat extradited to Belgium over France attack plot

BRUSSELS — An Iranian diplomat linked to an alleged bomb plot against an Iranian opposition rally in France has been extradited to Belgium from Germany, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The Vienna-based Iranian, who has previously been identified as Assadollah Assadi, was handed over and will appear before the Belgian judge in charge of the case on Wednesday, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office told AFP.

Iran last week staunchly denied French accusations that one of its diplomats was involved in the alleged plot that took place just ahead of a visit to Europe by President Hassan Rouhani.

The suspected plan to target a gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in a Paris suburb came to light a few days after the June 30 event.

Six people were arrested afterwards in coordinated raids by European police forces, including Assadi.

The meeting was also attended by leading American figures, including close allies of US President Donald Trump.

Iran has accused the opposition group, the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK), which Tehran considers a terrorist group, of orchestrating the plot to discredit Rouhani.

Belgian authorities in July requested the extradition of both Assadi and a man identified as Merhad A., who was detained in Paris.

Belgian police believe Merhad A. is an accomplice of a husband and wife team caught in Brussels in possession of 500 grams of the powerful explosive TATP and a detonator.

All three are Belgian nationals of Iranian origin.

“We deny the accusations and forcefully condemn the Iranian diplomat’s arrest and call for his immediate release,” the Iran foreign ministry said on October 2 in a statement.

But French security services believe the Iranian intelligence ministry was behind the foiled plot.

In retaliation, France announced last week it had frozen Assadi’s assets for six months.