TEHRAN, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Iran has charged former top nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian with turning over classified documents to Britain.
Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie, Iran's intelligence minister, made the formal announcement of charges in Tehran, seven months after Mousavian was arrested and jailed for 10 days, The Times of London reported.
"He has been informed of the charges that he has given the British Embassy information contrary to the security of the country," Mohseni-Ejeie said. "From the viewpoint of the Intelligence Ministry, he is a criminal."
Mousavian was the main nuclear negotiator under Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, and diplomats told the newspaper the charges were more the result of domestic politics than anything.
"We're not treating these allegations with any seriousness," one diplomatic source who asked not to be identified told The Times.
Mousavian left the government when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected. Mousavian remained allied with Ahmadinejad's political rivals, the newspaper said.
