Iran Ex-diplomat: "My Case Was Influenced By Political Motives"

London, Nov 28, IRNA – Iran's former ambassador to Jordan Nosratollah Tajik welcomed today's verdict of London High Court to oppose his repatriation to the USA and underlined that his case had been influenced by political motives since the very beginning. In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Tuesday evening, Tajik said that the High Court verdict was very pleasant to him. 'In fact, after six years of house arrest in Britain, this is the first verdict issued by a judge in my favor.' London High Court ruled on Tuesday opposed to repatriation of Mr. Tajik to the USA and declared that he should be discharged. Tajik added that forming a dossier against him and especially the issue of repatriation to the USA had completely a political motive and in fact he had been a hostage in the past six years. He continued that Britain's Home Secretary has asked two weeks' grace to protest against today's verdict and, clearly during this two weeks, none of imposed limitations against him would be removed. Lord Justice Moses, a senior judge from London High Court, has said in his verdict that considering around six years delay in Tajik repatriation process, he should be discharged. Nosratollah Tajik, who was teaching in Durham University in northeast of England, was arrested in England in 2006 on charges of trying to illegally export US made night-vision goggles to Iran. Since then, the US officials have requested his repatriation to the USA. Preliminary courts in Britain, in spite of Tajik attorney's protest, had voted for repatriation of him, but the verdict needed confirmation of Home Secretary to be implemented. Experts believe that today's verdict of the London High Court is an important development in this dossier, which can cancel long and severe limitations against Mr. Tajik. If British Home Office as well as the US government do not protest against the verdict, his repatriation verdict would be totally cancelled. The British Home Office and the US government have two weeks time to protest the verdict, and in that case the Britain Supreme Court, as the highest judicial source should consider the case. Tajik said that if political motives and issues do not interfere in this case, he believes Britain Supreme Court will confirm verdict of the London High Court. Iran's former Ambassador to Jordan also underlined that his health is in danger because of six years of house arrest and now he is suffering heart condition and other kinds of illness and this situation has had a negative effect on his family. The High Court judge in his verdict, by referring to correspondence between the Governments of Britain and USA concerning repatriation of Mr. Tajik in years between 2009 and 2011, said that the US government, for two and a half years, failed to present an acceptable reason to British government for repatriation. He added that the US government could not justify this delay, while repatriation process should be done upon the Reparation Law approved in year 2003./end