An Iranian diplomat was arrested in Cairo a few days ago for spying and is interrogated by state security prosecutor, the official Egyptian agency Mena announced on Sunday.
A judicial source confirmed to AFP his arrest, which was however denied by the Iranian interests department in Cairo.
“State Security Prosecutor today began investigation of Qassem al-Hosseini, an Iranian diplomat who works at the Iranian interests section in Cairo”, announced Mena news agency.
Hosseini, who was arrested a few days ago, is accused of “spying for a foreign state (Iran) in order to damage Egypt’s interests”.
According to a preliminary investigation, the diplomat was gathering “information on Egypt, covering the previous events and conditions occurring in the country recently, then sent it to the Iranian intelligence services”.
The Iranian interests section in Cairo denied the information. “He is at the embassy as we speak. Nothing like this happened, he was not arrested”, said a representative of the department, who wished to remain anonymous.
AFP asked to speak to Hosseini but he could not be contacted.
Egypt and Iran have only interest sections in both countries after Iran broke diplomatic relations with Cairo in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution, to protest signing, in 1979, of a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.
The two countries have strained relations over the past three decades, but after the fall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak in February, statements regarding a resumption of relations have been made on both sides.