Iran’s Former N. Official Released on Bail

 Iran on Wednesday freed on bail a former nuclear official after holding him on national security-related charges for more than a week, the judiciary said. Hossein Moussavian was freed after paying bail of 2 billion rials (215,000 dollars) at around 1:00 pm (0930 GMT).

Moussavian, the spokesman of a moderate negotiating team that served under reformist president Mohammad Khatami to 2005, was arrested on April 30. He also served as ambassador to Germany under Rafsanjani.

An informed source earlier told FNA that investigations would continue into Moussavian’s case after his release.

“He has expressed sorrow and remorse over his deeds,” said the source. “The initial investigation is now completed and the subsequent investigation will be done by summoning him to the prosecutors’ office in person.”

It said the Moussavian’s accusations “are not related to today or yesterday but have to do with (actions) many years ago” adding that the investigation had so far only focused on security issues.

Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejhehee said late on Tuesday that two other unnamed individuals had been summoned for questioning by intelligence agents in connection with the case.

FNA’s source said that one of the individuals — both of whom worked for security bodies — had been released on bail. It did not give details over the fate of the other suspect.

Government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham denied that the arrest of Moussavian targeted as a group the moderate officials who handled the Iranian nuclear case until Ahmadinejad’s election.

“The issue is not specifically related to the nuclear people. The nuclear issue is not the only focus. Moussavian’s case is specifically linked to him as an individual,” he told reporters during a press briefing here on Wednesday.

Moussavian is now deputy head of the Strategic Research center belonging to the Expediency Council, Iran’s top political arbitration body which is headed by Rafsanjani himself.

The head of the Strategic Studies Centre is Hassan Rowhani, a moderate cleric who until 2005 was Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary under Khatami.