Belgium rejects reports that jailed Iranian diplomat to be freed in prisoner swap

BRUSSELS (AA) - Belgium denied reports Wednesday that a prisoner swap deal has been reached with Iran.

Iranian media said an agreement to extradite Olivier Vandecasteele, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison by Iran, was reached and included the exchange for Asadollah Assadi, being held in Belgium on terrorism charges. It said that the swap would take place soon.

But Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne denied the reports and said it is "not correct" and it came from "a rogue state" aiming to "sow confusion on the hood of an innocent compatriot and his family."

"This is a very delicate operation. We will continue to do everything we can to get him back to us as soon as possible," he added in a tweet.

Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib confirmed Wednesday in the federal parliament that Iran had requested Asadi’s transfer.

The deal was signed by Iran and Belgium last week after long negotiations, according to reports.

The opposition in Belgium has criticized the deal, arguing that it was part of a campaign to rescue Asadi, who was sentenced to 20 years by the Antwerp Court.

Vandecasteele has been held in Iran for eight months on espionage, money laundering and currency smuggling charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

*Writing by Aysu Bicer in London