TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (Mehr News Agency) – Former nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian has been cleared of espionage, the Judiciary announced on Tuesday. "Mousavian was found innocent in the spy case and possession of classified documents," Judiciary spokesman Ali-Reza Jamshidi told reporters at a press conference.

Jamshidi said Mousavian faced three charges, namely espionage, possessing classified documents and delivering them to foreigners, and disseminating propaganda against the Islamic Republic system.

The accused was cleared of the charges of spying and possession of classified documents, and the ruling on the charge of disseminating propaganda against the system will be announced soon, he added.

The Judiciary spokesman said the judge's verdict had been passed on to the Tehran prosecutor.

The case will still go to trial if the prosecutor protests the decision, in which case the final verdict will be issued by a trial judge, he added.

Mousavian has held various government positions, including Iranian ambassador to Germany. His latest post was deputy chairman of the Expediency Council's Center for Strategic Studies.


Publish texts of Mousavian's talks with foreigners: Iran President

Tehran, Nov 28, IRNA - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday called for publishing of the texts of Hossein Mousavian's talks with foreigners.

The president made the remarks commenting on Mousavian's case who had been accused of a number of charges, including espionage.

Mousavian whose case is publicly known as the case of 'nuclear spy,' was cleared of espionage charges on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a cabinet session, the president said, "Something has happened and he has passed some information. Those who are against Iran are informed about those issues."

"I persistently propose that the text of his talks be published for public information," President Ahmadinejad emphasized.

He stressed, "it is not a technical issue but a political one as was the case regarding the issue of our peaceful nuclear activities."

"Mr. Mousavian has met with foreigners and talked to them for at least 10-15 sessions. Everything will become clear if all things mentioned by him during those sessions are published," the president stressed.
 

Call for Mousavian open trial should have been made before court session: Speaker

Tehran, Nov 28, IRNA - The call for holding an open trial for Hussein Mousavian should have be made before his court hearing, Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said on Wednesday.

"It is late to talk about holding an open or closed trial now that the verdict was issued on his case," the speaker told reporters at the end of a cabinet session.

Mousavian whose case is publicly known as the case of 'nuclear spy,' had been accused of a number of charges, including espionage.

He was cleared of espionage charges on Tuesday.

It is believed by some inside the country that Mousavian's trial should have been held in open court in order to remove
misunderstandings around his case.

"He faced a closed trial based on a decision made by the judge who realized that the case should be examined in camera due to existing sensitivities," said the speaker.

Stressing that it is better "to trust judiciary system," Haddad-Adel said, "Anyone who has any document proving that the judge had been under pressure should present it" to the court.

Ejei: Text of Mousavian's talks to be published by judiciary permission Tehran

Tehran, Nov 28, IRNA - Information Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni- Ejei said on Wednesday that information transferred to foreigners by Hossein Mousavian's case will be published if judiciary system issues permission.

"Deciding on publishing those documents is within the
responsibilities of the judiciary system and we can publish them if they permit us," said the minister.

Mousavian had recently been accused of a number of charges, including espionage. His case is publicly known as the case of 'nuclear spy'.

He was cleared of espionage charges on Tuesday.

Commenting on the issue of Mousavian's acquittal, Ejei told reporters at the end of a cabinet session, "The Ministry of Information will once again send its viewpoints in this connection to the judiciary system and it is up to the judiciary system to accept it or not."
"Acquitting is an issue related to the court. In Mousavian case, the Information Ministry has done an expert work which led to a good conclusion and ended in his arrest," Ejei added.
 

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