Iran detains two British ‘security suspects’ — state media

Iranian authorities have placed in custody two British nationals accused of unspecified security offenses, state media reports.

Official news agency IRNA says the two were being held in the central Kerman province, without sharing details of their identities or the circumstances of their arrest.

There was no immediate comment from London, but IRNA says British Ambassador Hugo Shorter “met with the two security suspects” at the Kerman prosecutor’s office.

Several other Europeans are held in custody in Iran, which has conducted multiple prisoner exchanges with Western governments in recent years.

In January 2023, Iran announced the execution of British-Iranian dual citizen Alireza Akbari, prompting outrage among Western governments, including Britain, which called it “barbaric”.

Akbari had been convicted of spying for Britain.