Iranian Envoy Addresses Diplomatic Row With Kenya

Iranian ambassador to Kenya, Hadi Farajvand, addressed the media on Monday in an effort to clear the air on the tension that has been simmering between the two nations.

During an interview with NTV, he admitted to reports regarding his attempts to seek the release of Iranian terror suspects, Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousavi, albeit under legal means.

He accused a Wesley Kiptanui Kipkemoi and Shemgrant Agyei of trying to extort him under the guise of being high ranking Interior ministry officials who claimed to be capable of securing the release of the Iranian nationals, at a fee.

The two alleged extortionists were brought to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) headquarters for questioning.

As to the accusations laid against him implying that he was captured on camera while purchasing airline tickets for the terror suspects, the ambassador claimed he was at the airline office on Riverside Drive to get his own personal tickets.

Faravjand asserted that he was the one who actually alerted the DCI upon sensing foul play.

He alleged that certain countries were working overtime to ensure that Iran and Kenya were in constant squabbles, but refused to name the countries he was referring to when quizzed on the same.

“Whenever we offer something to Kenya for the development of Kenya, I think there are some hands, invisible hands behind those activities who bring some issue to the media which is really not important,” he divulged.

“I can't say which country, but we definitely believe that there are some countries that do not like Iran and Kenya to have good relations,” he added.

Iran on Monday moved to impose a price cap on tea exports to the country, instructing Kenya to set the maximum price per kilo of tea that it sells to the Asian country at Ksh300, with anything above the amount attracting a punitive tax.

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