Iran Reports Arrest of German Diplomats; Germany Denies It

Iran’s deputy intelligence minister told the state-owned TV network that two German diplomats, using fictitious names of Yogi and Ingo, had been arrested during 27 December Ashura demonstrations in Tehran. The official said Iran would launch protest to the German embassy in Tehran [IRIB, 27 January]. It was not clear if the diplomats were still in detention and why Iran had waited a month to launch a protest.

In Berlin today, Andreas Peschke, a German government spokesman, dismissed the report, saying no German diplomats were arrested on 27 December. He also denied any alleged involvement of German diplomats in Iranian opposition protests.