Iranian media reported today (Saturday) that Tehran summoned the Swiss ambassador, who represents American interests in the country, and a senior Italian diplomat, against the background of the arrest by the United States of two Iranian citizens, last week, according to the agency “Reuters”.
On Monday, US prosecutors charged the two men with illegally exporting sensitive technology to Iran. The prosecution said that this technology was used in a drone attack in Jordan in January, which led to the death of 3 US military personnel.
The United States accused Iranian-backed militants of carrying out the attack. Iran, at the time, denied involvement.
Federal prosecutors in Boston said the two men were Mohammad Abedini, the co-founder of an Iran-based company, and Mehdi Sadeghi, an employee of the Massachusetts-based semiconductor manufacturing company “Analog Devices”.
Abedini was arrested in Italy at the request of the US government and has a residence permit in Switzerland. Sadeghi, who was born in Iran and holds US citizenship, lives in Natick, Massachusetts.
Iranian media quoted the foreign ministry as saying: “We consider their arrest a violation of international law,” adding that the Swiss ambassador and the Italian charge d’affaires were asked to convey Iran’s protest over what happened.
