Iran: 2 Chinese Held On Spying Charges

[Rasputin]

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)- Iran has detained two Chinese nationals on charges of spying on its military and nuclear facilities, state radio reported Wednesday.

There have been a series of similar accusations against Westerners in Iran in recent years but none against China, with which Iran enjoys good relations.

``The Chinese nationals were detained while taking photos and recording video of a military complex in Arak city,'' the radio quoted Ali Reza Jamshidi, spokesman of Iran's judiciary, as saying. ``They entered Iran through Kish Island as tourists.''

Kish is a resort island and free-trade off the southern coast of Iran. A 40-megawatt nuclear reactor is being built in Arak, 435 miles to the north.

Jamshidi said the case was under initial investigation by the country's judicial authorities.

No further details were given.

Iran's judiciary announced Monday it had concluded its investigations into two Iranian-Americans accused of conspiring against national security. Two other Iranian Americans also are being held on security-related charges.

Iran has detained two Chinese nationals on charges of spying on its military and nuclear facilities, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

Though such accusations against Westerners are common in Iran, the announcement is the first such charge against China, with which Iran enjoys good relations.

"The Chinese nationals were detained while taking photo and recording video tape of a military complex in Arak city," judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi told reporters. "They entered Iran through Kish Island as tourists."

Jamshidi said the case was under investigation by the country's judicial authorities.

No further details were given about when the men were apprehended or how they traveled the more than 700 kilometers between Kish Island tourist resort and Arak which is also the site of an under-construction 40-megawatt nuclear reactor.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry occasionally makes announcements about identifying and striking down British and American spy networks around the country.

Iran's judiciary announced Monday it had concluded its investigations into two Iranian-American academics accused of conspiring against the country's security.

Two other Iranian Americans are also being held on security grounds.

[Rasputin]

بازداشت دو چینی در ایران



سخنگوی قوه قضائیه ایران از بازداشت دو تبعه چینی به اتهام عکسبرداری و فیلمبرداری از تأسیسات نظامی اراک در مرکز ایران خبر داد.
علیرضا جمشیدی، سخنگوی قوه قضائیه ایران، روز چهارشنبه 24 مرداد (15 اوت) در نشستی با خبرنگاران گفت که بازداشت شدگان از طریق جزیره کیش وارد ایران شده بوده اند، وی اطلاعات بیشتری در مورد هویت این افراد، در اختیار خبرنگاران قرار نداد.

هنوز دولت چین واکنشی نسبت به بازداشت دو تبعه این کشور در ایران نشان نداده است.

عکسبرداری از تأسیسات نظامی تقریباً در همه جای دنیا اقدامی غیرقانونی و قابل تعقیب است.

در ماه مارس سال گذشته میلادی، دو سوئدی هنگام عکسبرداری از تأسیسات نظامی جزیره قشم در جنوب ایران بازداشت و محاکمه شدند که دادگاه آن دو را به دو سال زندان محکوم کرد. اما هر دو نفر پس از گذراندن یک سال از دوره محکومیتشان آزاد شدند.

شهر اراک که دو تبعه چینی در اطراف آن بازداشت شده اند محلی است که رآکتور اتمی آب سنگین ایران در آن در حال احداث است و از این جهت از مراکز حساس اتمی این کشور به شمار می رود.

در قطعنامه شورای امنیت سازمان ملل متحد، توقف ساخت این رآکتور لازم دانسته شده است.

به نظر می رسد در صورت اجرای هرگونه عملیات نظامی علیه برنامه های اتمی ایران که بعضاً هشدارهایی در مورد آن از سوی برخی دولتها و منابع دیپلماتیک مطرح شده، رآکتور آب سنگین اراک نیز از جمله اهداف باشد.

[Rasputin]

Iran has freed two Chinese citizens detained for allegedly taking photos of Iranian military facilities, China's foreign ministry has said.
The ministry said the two were arrested last month during survey work they were carrying out for property owners.

According to a Chinese statement the incident had been a misunderstanding.

Last year, Iran sentenced two Swedish men to two years in prison for taking pictures of military facilities. They were released early, in April.

The Chinese foreign ministry said: "In early July, two people from Chinese companies mistakenly took some pictures of some sensitive buildings when they were helping local owners to conduct field measurements in Iran.

"They were detained by Iranian police and now they have been freed. The foreign ministry and Chinese embassy in Iran have warned Chinese citizens in Iran to behave so as to prevent misunderstandings."

Good relations

Iranian officials said earlier this month that the Chinese nationals had taken photographs of a military complex in the town of Arak, in central Iran, and accused them of spying.

Tehran is building a controversial nuclear reactor near the town. The two had entered Iran via the beach resort of Kish island which lies off Iran's southern coast, the officials said.

Correspondents say this is the first time Chinese citizens have been accused of spying in Iran.

The two countries have good relations, and China has secured involvement in large oil deals in the country.

However, Beijing has backed two rounds of UN Security Council sanctions designed to make it harder for Iran to pursue its nuclear programme.