TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s state media reported Wednesday that
authorities have detained two German diplomats and accused them of
playing a role in organizing deadly anti-government protests in
December.
Germany’s
Foreign Ministry said it had no knowledge about any diplomats being
detained and dismissed accusations that German diplomats had a hand in
the demonstrations and clashes last month that left eight people dead.
Iran’s
state radio and official IRNA news agency both quoted an unnamed deputy
intelligence minister on Wednesday as saying the German diplomats were
detained on Dec. 27, the day security forces fired on stone-throwing
protesters in Iran’s capital.
The disputed June 12
presidential vote divided Iran deeply and triggered massive street
protests by an opposition that claimed the election was stolen by
fraud. Iranian officials have since frequently accused the U.S. and
Britain of orchestrating anti-government protests.
But
Monday’s allegations marked the first time Iran has openly accused
Germany of playing a role in the turmoil that has rattled the country
since the disputed presidential elections last June.
The
intelligence official, who spoke during an interview with Iranian
media, was also quoted as saying authorities had detained a close aide
to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. The man w…
