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Iran rejects Saudi Arabia's espionage charges as "baseless": spokesman

Xinhua, December 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday refuted the spying charges by Saudi Arabia as politically-motivated and unfounded allegations, semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

"The Islamic republic has never had non-diplomatic activities in Saudi Arabia, and baseless and unfounded charges are politically-motivated and lies," Bahram Qasemi said in a reaction to a recent verdict by a Saudi court against some people on charges of spying for Iran.

"Saudi Arabia should not seek to accuse Iran of unsubstantiated charges for some political gains and raising tension in the region," he said, adding that fabricating such allegations is not in the interests of the region.

A Saudi court on Tuesday sentenced 15 people to death on charges of spying for Iran, Al Arabiya news reported.

The convicts are part of a network of 32 people. Two were acquitted and 15 others were handed down jail terms ranging from six months to 25 years, the report said.

Saudi Arabia has been accusing Iran of standing behind regional disturbances by interfering in the internal affairs of countries, such as Bahrain and Yemen, allegations that have been dismissed by Iran.

Saudi Arabia cut its ties with Iran earlier this year and asked its envoy to leave the country. Endit