Diplomatic row with Iran after Dutch diplomat's luggage gets seized
The Netherlands is in a diplomatic conflict with Iran after the country confiscated the baggage of a Dutch diplomat at Tehran airport in January. Footage of the incident leaked to Iranian media this week. According to the Dutch government, seizing diplomatic material violates a fundamental international agreement. The Netherlands has summoned the Iranian ambassador for an explanation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NOS that Iran stopped a Dutch Diplomat at Imam Khomeini International Airport on January 28 and confiscated his diplomatic baggage. According to the Ministry, the Netherlands has addressed Iran about this through diplomatic channels in recent weeks, requesting the immediate release of the diplomatic mission, but it was met with radio silence.
Until a video of the incident was released in Iranian media this week. "With the leaking of these images, that silence has been broken on the Iranian side. We regret this, and it also gives us reason to summon the Iranian ambassador to the ministry this afternoon," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NOS.
According to Iranian media, diplomat Andre van Wiggen, the second-in-command at the Dutch embassy in Tehran, had satellite communications equipment in his luggage. The diplomat allegedly refused to have his luggage scanned upon arrival, so it was confiscated. According to the reports, the suitcase contained a portable Starlink satellite modem, several satellite phones, and other communications.
According to NOS, the Iranian regime wants to ban these types of communication equipment because they can be used to disseminate information that the regime prefers to keep secret. For example, earlier this year, Iran shut down the internet before violently suppressing mass demonstrations. At least 7,000 people were killed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies the allegations that Iran is trying to insinuate. “The story Iran is trying to portray is factually incorrect. It is Iran that is not adhering to the agreements laid down in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the Ministry said.
“This was a diplomatic mission, protected under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We cannot comment further on the contents of such a mission,” the Ministry said when NOS asked about the contents of the suitcase.
