Diplomat Freed without Giving in to Terrorists’ Demands: Iranian Minister


Diplomat Freed without Giving in to Terrorists’ Demands: Iranian Minister

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's Intelligence Minister Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi said his ministry secured the freedom of an Iranian diplomat in Yemen without yielding to terrorists.

“Iran’s intelligence officers managed to employ new and novel methods in such a way so as to secure the release of our diplomat and at the same time none of their (the captors’) demands were met," Alavi said on Thursday.

Iranian diplomat Nour Ahmad Nikbakht, who had been held hostage by terrorist groups in Yemen, has been freed thanks to the efforts made by the intelligence ministry.

He arrived at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport this morning and was received by Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian, a number of parliamentarians as well as his family members.

Nikbakht was abducted on July 21, 2013, on his way to work from his home in the diplomatic quarter of the Yemeni capital of Sana’a.

Alavi noted that the diplomat’s freedom was secured in a complex operation carried out by the country's intelligence forces.

He said the Iranian intelligence ministry’s achievement came while powerful countries with all their intelligence services failed in recent months to free their citizens from terrorist hands even though they were prepared to meet the demands of hostage takers.

Alavi reiterated that the Iranian intelligence apparatus will powerfully defend the Islamic Republic’s interests and will not make the slightest concession to terrorists.

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