Germany approves extradition of Iranian diplomat over suspected bomb plot

A German court on Monday authorized the extradition of an Iranian diplomat to Belgium over his suspected involvement in preparing a terrorist attack against a Paris-based Iranian opposition group.

The diplomat, who worked in the Iranian Embassy in Vienna prior to his arrest, is reportedly suspected of contacting a couple in Belgium and handing over to them an explosive device to carry out an attack during the meeting of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, believed to be related to Iranian opposition. However, the couple was arrested before they could commit their attack.

"The prosecuted cannot appeal to his diplomatic immunity because he left Austria, the country of residence, for several days and has not traveled between the country of residence and the country that sent him," the court said in a statement.

According to the statement, the decision to extradite the diplomat was made on September 27.

The diplomat was detained in the German city of Aschaffenburg in July under a European Arrest Warrant and was later charged with working as a foreign intelligence agent and being part of a conspiracy to commit murder.