Tehran's ambassador to Ireland has been arrested in Iran on charges of financial mismanagement, Iranian judicial and foreign ministry sources reported yesterday.
Hamid Reza Nikkar has been accused of mismanaging a construction project that is believed to have predated his arrival in Dublin less than four months ago.
Iranian judiciary minister Jamal Karimirad told reporters in Tehran that an Iranian envoy had been arrested and was in jail after failing to meet bail.
Foreign ministry sources yesterday named the man as Hamid Reza Nikkar, ambassador to Ireland.
There was no indication of how Mr Nikkar pleaded.
"One of our ambassadors has been arrested for financial mismanagement," Mr Karimirad said on Monday.
"Ten per cent of a €16 million deal has been mismanaged," he added.
It was unclear whether the charge, which one source said involved a construction project, related to a crime committed in Iran or abroad.
Foreign ministry sources said the charges were likely to relate to an alleged offence before his arrival in Ireland.
Mr Nikkar took up his posting last June, when he presented his credentials to President Mary McAleese, amid a traditional "escort of honour" at Áras an Uachtaráin.
He had previously served as ambassador to Armenia, deputy foreign minister and mayor of the central city of Isfahan.
The Irish Ambassador in Tehran declined to comment on the case.
