Iran slams media hype over journalist arrest

Hamid Masouminejad, a correspondent for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) based in Rome, was arrested on March 3 for alleged arms trafficking to Iran in contradiction to the sanctions imposed by the West and UN against the country.

Italian counterterrorism prosecutor Armando Spataro defended the move saying the arrest was made after a nine-month investigation, including intercepted phone conversations and e-mail messages.

Following the arrest, the Italian media claimed that shipments of materials had been intercepted and that the operation had stopped explosives from being shipped to Iran.

Officials in Tehran say the accusations, which are directed at Iran, are unacceptable and have urged the Italian government to secure the release of the senior correspondent.

In a Monday meeting with Spataro, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, the Iranian ambassador to Rome, criticized the Italian government's approach toward the issue, saying that certain media took advantage of it to turn the situation against Iran.

Earlier this month, more than 70 high profile Italians in a signed petition called for the release of the journalist.

In their petition, a copy of which was obtained by Press TV, the signatories said that Iran's enemies, including the US and Israel, are attempting to deceive the global population and prepare the ground for an attack on the country.

Some analysts cast doubts on the allegations of arms smuggling leveled by the Italian government, arguing the allegations are flimsy and skeptical, as Iran's significant progress in different fields including aerospace technology and nuclear sciences in recent years invalidates the Western media reports of Iran's demand for such ordinary guns.

They say the arrest of the senior Iranian journalist serves as a type of political leverage to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, which the West claims has non-civilian purposes, an allegation vehemently rejected by Iran.


/Press TV/