Iran is willing to carry out a prisoner exchange with Belgium: “This is how Olivier Vandecasteele could be released”

For example, Olivier Vandecasteele, the Belgian aid worker who has been detained in an Iranian cell for more than a year, could be released.

“With the decision of the Belgian Constitutional Court, we can say that the way is open to implement the agreement that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes,” said Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He referred to the treaty between Belgium and Iran on the transfer of prisoners, which has been controversial since its announcement last summer.

The Court on Friday rejected the appeal against the treaty, which was suspended in December 2022. Olivier Vandecasteele could be exchanged for Iranian dummy diplomat Assadolah Assadi. In 2021, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in our country for his role in a foiled terrorist attack in Paris.

“We have repeatedly said that his arrest, interrogation, trial and sentencing were illegal and in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Immunity,” Kanani said of Assadi. “We have said that he should be released unconditionally and compensation must be paid. “With the recent change, we hope that there will be an opening in this diplomat’s case,” Kanani concluded.