Iranian elite forces nab 30 dual nationals

London, Nov. 9: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have arrested at least 30 dual nationals during the past two years, mostly on spying charges, according to lawyers, diplomats and relatives, twice as many as earlier reported by local or international media.

The number marks a sharp rise since 2015, when an international nuclear deal raised hopes of detente with the West. In the years before that the number of dual nationals detained at any given time was in single figures.

It also points up a new trend as a majority of those arrested since then, 19 out of the 30, have citizenship in Europe. Previously most of the detainees were Iranian Americans. Detainees’ relatives and lawyers said the Guards were using them as bargaining chips

Revolutionary Guards arrested at least 30 dual nationals during the past two years

The number marks a sharp rise since 2015, when an international nuclear deal raised hopes of detente with the West

in international relations and to put off European firms that sought business in Iran after the government agreed the deal with world powers to lift sanctions.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vast business interests as well as being Iran’s most powerful security force and has criticised the government for handing contracts to foreigners.

— Reuters