Turkey Detains 2 Suspects Over Espionage for Iran

Turkish soldier near Iranian border (File photo: EPA)
Turkish soldier near Iranian border (File photo: EPA)
TT

Turkey Detains 2 Suspects Over Espionage for Iran

Turkish soldier near Iranian border (File photo: EPA)
Turkish soldier near Iranian border (File photo: EPA)

Turkish authorities have detained two individuals, an Iranian and a Turkish national, on suspicion of espionage, a senior official announced Wednesday.

The two alleged spies were detained as they plotted to kidnap and forcibly repatriate a former Iranian military official from the eastern Turkish province Van, which borders Iran, an unnamed government official told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

According to the official, six local "collaborators" were also arrested in a joint operation by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency and Turkey's police.

He did not reveal the identity of the two suspects or the reasons behind the attempted kidnap of the former Iranian military official.

Turkey and Iran have historically had close economic ties but occasionally stand at opposite sides in regional conflicts, including Syria.



Kremlin: Putin Would Welcome Trump's Desire for Contacts, But So Far There Have Been No Requests

People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
TT

Kremlin: Putin Would Welcome Trump's Desire for Contacts, But So Far There Have Been No Requests

People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
People take part in New Year celebrations near the Spasskaya tower of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, January 1, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would welcome US President-elect Donald Trump's desire for contacts, but so far there have been no requests for contact.
It would be more appropriate to wait for Trump to take office first, Peskov said.