Iranian diplomat terror plot trial

On 27 November 2020, Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi and three other Iranian citizens were tried in Belgium,[1][2][3] charged with plotting to bomb a 2018 rally of National Council of Resistance of Iran, a political wing of the exiled Iranian political party People's Mujahedin of Iran in France.[4] The trial established that Assadi had smuggled explosives from Iran and was acting on instructions of high-ranking Iranian officials.[5][6][7] The charges included "attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group."[5] This is the first trial where a EU country charged an Iranian official for terrorism.[8]

On February 4, 2021, Assadi was sentenced to 20 years in jail for “attempted murder and involvement in terrorism.”[9] Nassimeh Naami was sentenced to 18 years, Amir Saadouni to 15 years, and Mehrdad Arefani to 17 years.[10]

  1. ^ "Iranian diplomat skips terror trial for bomb plot that targeted UK MPs among others". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. ^ "Iran diplomat to stand trial in Belgium over 'France bomb plot'". 27 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. ^ "Iranian diplomat misses first day of his trial over 2018 terror plot". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  4. ^ "Iranian Diplomat on Trial in Belgium, Charged with Plotting Attack". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  5. ^ a b "Grounds for Optimism as Justice and Accountability Take Priority in Dealing with Iran". intpolicydigest.org. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  6. ^ "Bags of Cash and a Bomb Plot: Inside a Covert Iranian Operation in Europe". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  7. ^ "Facing terror charges, Iran diplomat skips trial opening day". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  8. ^ "In European first, Iranian envoy faces trial over foiled bomb plot". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  9. ^ "Belgian court sentences Iranian diplomat to 20 years over bomb plot". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference sentence was invoked but never defined (see the help page).