Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 14
By Rahim Zamanov - Trend:
Iranian MP Ali Motahari said that a deputy intelligence minister and a director at the ministry have been dismissed over the case of installing surveillance equipment in his office, the ISNA News Agency reported on December 14.
Motahari released the info in a statement published on his website.
According to Motahari, the dismissal follows his meeting with the minister.
Arman newspaper on Dec. 11 quoted Motahari as saying that the cell phones of all Iranian MPs are being tapped.
Commenting on the eavesdropping case at his office, Motahari said that Iranian intelligence minister, Mahmoud Alavi has given him the names of the persons who are involved in the case.
He underlined that his office is frequented by many figures, including the families of persons involved in 2009's political events, adding that such visits created sensitivity.
Motahari said in mid-July that he had discovered eavesdropping devices installed in his office.
He said in a statement that surveillance equipment was accidentally discovered in the air conditioning ductwork, and his own video surveillance shows that nine intruders entered the premises at night.
Motahari requested that the intelligence ministry explain the installation of the devices which he said violated Iranian law, while some other parliament members criticized him for publicizing the issue.
"Since ordinary people can't do such things, there is no doubt that an organization has carried out such a shocking act," another Iranian conservative MP Ahmad Tavakoli said, adding that it would be a shame if it turns out that the country's intelligence and national security organizations were behind the move.