Iran claims to have arrested UK's deputy head of mission for espionage

By Mustafa Melih Ahishali

ANKARA (AA) - Iran claimed Wednesday that it detained the UK's deputy ambassador in Tehran for allegedly taking samples of soil from a region where missile exercises were being conducted.

Giles Whitaker and several diplomats were detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after it was determined they took the samples in a "forbidden area" where missile exercises were carried out in the Shahdad desert in southeastern Kerman province, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News.

It reported that the IRGC released a video showing Whitaker near the site.

The footage was broadcast by Iranian state television and it was reported that Whitaker would be deported.