UK academic is seized by Iran as ‘bargaining chip’

a BrITIsh-Iranian academic has been arrested in Iran, weeks before a final decision is due to be made on a nuclear deal with the West.

abbas edalat, a professor of computer science and mathematics at Imperial College london, was attending an academic workshop when he was arrested on april 15 by the revolutionary Guard, the Centre for human rights in Iran (ChrI) said.

he is the latest of dozens of dual nationals detained by Iran since it struck a deal with six world powers in 2015 to limit its nuclear energy programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. donald Trump must decide by May 12 whether to go ahead with the agreement and observers say those arrested may be used by Tehran as bargaining chips in negotiations.

Iran is believed to be holding at least four British citizens, including Mr edalat, who is known in the UK as an anti-war activist. among the four is Nazanin Zaghari-ratcliffe, from london.

she was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly plotting the overthrow of Iran’s government. she had taken her toddler daughter to visit relatives when she was arrested in april 2016.

revolutionary Guards have arrested at least 30 dual nationals since the deal, according to human rights groups.

ChrI executive director hadi Ghaemi said: ‘ Iran’s continued arbitrary arrests of dual nationals without transparency and lack of due process is extremely concerning.’