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Iranian Minister: Former Nuclear Negotiator Shared Classified Information


Iran's intelligence minister says former Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian has been charged with giving classified information to foreigners, including the British embassy in Tehran.

Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ezhehee told the semi-official Fars news agency that Moussavian has been charged with passing on secrets against the country's interests and security.

Ezhehee also warned what he called "influential people" not to try to interfere in Moussavian's case and seek his acquittal.

Moussavian was arrested earlier this year and then freed on bail. He served as Iran's top nuclear negotiator under reformist President Mohammad Khatami until 2005.

On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused critics of Tehran's nuclear program of giving information to Iran's enemies and of pressuring the courts to acquit an alleged Iranian spy. He did not identify who he was talking about.

Mr. Ahmadinejad also branded as "traitors" those in Iran who want Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.

On Tuesday, diplomats said Iran met a key demand of the U.N. nuclear agency and turned over long-withheld blueprints that show the way to mold uranium into the shape of nuclear warheads. The International Atomic Energy Agency had been seeking copies of the documents since 2005.

The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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