The foreign minister praised efforts by intelligence forces to secure the release of a kidnapped diplomat by terrorists in Yemen, describing the achievement as reflective of the “absolute security and political might” of the country.
In the message issued on Thursday, Mohammad Javad Zarif extended his gratitude to Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi and security forces for their successful efforts, saying, “Certainly, liberating the abducted diplomat from the grips of terrorists and returning him shows the absolute security and political might of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” IRNA reported.
Nour Ahmad Nikbakht was kidnapped in Sana’a on his way from home to work on July 21, 2013, when his vehicle was stopped by unidentified gunmen and he was forced out and taken hostage. He was freed through an operation by intelligence forces and returned to the country on Thursday.
On arrival, Nikbakht was greeted by officials, including lawmakers and Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
“A special committee was set up on the foreign minister’s order and all the relevant parties joined,” Amir Abdollahian said, adding, “In the end, a special task force from the intelligence ministry managed to free Nikbakht from the clutches of the terrorists.”
Elsewhere, during a press conference on Thursday, Alavi said, “None of the demands of the terrorists in exchange for setting the diplomat free was accepted,” adding, “Hostage-taking of a diplomat who is on duty in another country and is not armed with any weapon is of no military, intelligence and operational value. However, the hostage release operation is a complicated task.”
“Given its experience and command over complicated intelligence methods, the intelligence ministry succeeded in completing the task,” he added.
