The UK and other European powers are under pressure from Iran to distance themselves from the recent economic sanctions reimposed on Iran by the US that may be a precursor to opening talks on Iran’s nuclear programme – but which could also hinder further talks.
Iran secured the Italian release of an Iranian exporter, Mohammad Abedini, wanted by the US for allegedly supplying goods used in a drone attack on US soldiers in Jordan.
State media published photographs of what it said showed Shorter meeting two British “national security” suspects at the general and revolutionary prosecutor’s office in Kerman province, about 500 miles south-east of Tehran.
Washington had been seeking Abedini and another Iranian national’s arrest for allegedly supplying drone parts that the White House says were used in last year’s attack in Jordan.
The UK Foreign Office did not issue a statement about the development, which came just as the new Iranian ambassador to the UK, Seyyed Ali Mousavi, was due to arrive.
