Iran releases 6 slovak nationals

Iran has released 6 of the 8 Slovak nationals arrested on charges of possessing illegal equipment and violating the Islamic Republic’s law, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Monday. Following a decision by the relevant authorities based on investigations carried out into the case, the Slovak nationals were released and handed over to Slovakia’s Embassy in Tehran on Sunday, the foreign ministry’s statement said. The other two detainees are still being investigated, the statement said. On July 1, Iran's Judiciary Spokesman and Prosecutor-General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeii said that eight Slovak citizens and one Iranian national had been arrested in Isfahan on charges of taking pictures of restricted areas. Mohseni-Ejei added that the detainees had smuggled “illegal equipment” into the country. On June 30, former Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Araqchi confirmed earlier reports that Slovak nationals had been arrested for violating the Islamic Republic’s law. “The Slovak citizens have been arrested before Iran’s June 14 presidential election and investigations about these people are underway,” Araqchi told FNA at the time. “These individuals had come to Iran with tourist visas and for glider riding, but their actions and behavior were unconventional and they were arrested by the police for violating the Islamic Republic’s law,” Araqchi said. He added that the police have also seized some unusual devices and equipment from the Slovak nationals. “Of course, we have informed the Slovak government of this issue and acted in accordance with international regulations and the Vienna Convention,” Araqchi said, adding that Slovakia's ambassador to Tehran “is informed of the case and assured of their well-being”.