Report: Lebanese Detained in Saudi Kingpin of Alleged Iranian Spy Cell
A Lebanese businessman, who is suspected by Saudi authorities of espionage for a foreign country, is reported to be the key player in spy cell that was unveiled by Saudi in March.
Sources said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Thursday that the Lebanese suspect, a Shiite, is the most “dangerous” detainee in the network.
The man is reported to hold a European nationality, which the sources refused to reveal.
On March 19, the interior ministry in Riyadh said authorities had arrested 16 Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese citizen in four regions including Eastern Province.
The sources said that the Lebanese man was in charge of the financial transactions of the network.
“The Lebanese man paid clients after they presented him with the necessary espionage information,” they added.
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel had said last month that Saudi authorities are carrying out “secret” interrogations with a Lebanese businessman.
He pointed out that the Lebanese state has “confidence” in Saudi authorities and awaiting clarifications.
Concerning the Iranian suspect, the sources pointed out that he is a PhD student at the Islamic University of al-Madinah al-Munawarah.
The Iranian suspect, in his later thirties, is also said to be a media figure for a private satellite religious channel.
Saudi Arabia said the alleged spy cell had "direct links" to Iran's intelligence services, while Iran's foreign ministry has strongly denounced the accusations.
The Saudi charge d'affaires was summoned after "the publication of the baseless claim by Saudi Arabia," the Mehr news agency reported, citing a foreign ministry statement.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab monarchies have strained ties with Iran over what they call Tehran's interference in their internal affairs and its continuing support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
The Gulf Cooperation Council accuse Iran of supporting Shiite opposition protests in GCC member Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia's estimated two million Shiites, who frequently complain of marginalization, live mostly in the east where the vast majority of the OPEC kingpin's huge oil reserves lie.
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