20 Jan 2019; DW: Tehran has rejected claims that a Bundeswehr employee, arrested last week, was passing information to the Islamic Republic. Media reports have suggested the suspect worked for Iranian intelligence for many years.
Iran's government has denied any connections to a German-Afghan national arrested this week in Germany accused of carrying out espionage on behalf of Tehran.
The state IRNA news agency cited a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry as saying the country had not ever been in contact with the military consultant and translator.
The spokesman added that the arrest of the 50-year-old, known only as Abdul Hamid S., was an attempt by "enemies" of Iran to sabotage the Islamic Republic's relations with the European Union.
Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, saying the suspect was being held on suspicion of spying for Iran's intelligence service.
The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that he had access to sensitive information, including possible details of troop deployments in Afghanistan. It said he had worked for Iranian secret services for several years.
The Bundeswehr often uses native speakers to accompany troops on patrol in Afghanistan to enable communication with locals.
Tehran has frequently accused its arch-enemies Israel and the US of wanting to sabotage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the country's improved relationship with the EU, especially with Britain, France, and Germany.
Intelligence officials in Germany and Europe have raised fears about what they see as increasing espionage by Iran.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency in July reported that Iran had upped its cyberwarfare capabilities and posed a danger for German companies.
The German foreign ministry on Wednesday said it had "unequivocally expressed our great concern over the alleged agent activities," to Iran's ambassador in Berlin.
