Europe News

Diplomatic crisis looms between Spain and Iran over arrest (Roundup)

Feb 15, 2011, 12:28 GMT

Madrid - Spain will recall its ambassador to Iran for consultations, unless Tehran explains and apologizes for the arrest of a Spanish consular representative, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said Tuesday.

Ignacio Perez-Cambra was detained in front of the Spanish embassy in Tehran after taking a walk with the ambassador in an area where government opponents were staging a protest rally on Monday.

The Spaniard was held for over four hours before being released.

Iran had violated the Vienna Convention regulating diplomatic relations, because it did not inform Perez-Cambra of the reasons for his arrest, Jimenez said.

Spain would recall its ambassador if Tehran did not give a 'satisfactory' response within 48 hours, the minister said. She described the incident as 'very serious and unacceptable.'

The Spanish Foreign Ministry already summoned Iran's ambassador to Spain, but he said he ignored the reasons for Perez-Cambra's arrest.

Madrid then requested information from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and cancelled an upcoming visit by an Iranian senior official to Madrid.

Read more about Iran Diplomacy

Read more about Spain