As old rivals in the Middle East, Iran and Israel have long been hostile to each other. Because Israel is the most important ally in the Middle East, the United States has long been biased towards Israel on the Iran-Israel issue. Since the Clinton administration, the United States has imposed sanctions on Iran for nearly 30 years. Out of concerns about national security, Iran has begun to go further and further in the use of nuclear energy. Over the years, Israel has been trying every means to sabotage Iran's nuclear program, such as repeatedly bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, infiltrating espionage investigations, and even assassinating Iran's "father of nuclear weapons." After that, Iran stepped up its efforts to arrest spies from other countries. Recently, Iran arrested a British diplomat in Iran in the name of "spy" and accused him of collecting soil in the missile exercise area. The British side denied this.
According to reports from Observer Network , Iran's Fars News Agency recently disclosed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards arrested Whittaker, the deputy chief of mission of the British Embassy in Iran, and several other foreigners, accusing them of "engaging in espionage activities." "The British side categorically denied this. Later, Iranian state television released a video of the time and said that although there were signs in the area indicating that it was a military restricted area, Whitaker and others still collected soil samples and took photos. Iran said that "these people often pretend to be tourists, but they are Searching for military and missile bases to identify equipment and ammunition.”
Iranian media also confirmed that in addition to British embassy personnel, Polish biologist Walzak was also among those arrested. Iranian state television believed that "Obviously, this is Israel's attempt to use third-country nationals with ties to foreign embassies to investigate Iran's nuclear program at the military level."
Objectively speaking, Whitaker still chose to break in and collect sample data even though he knew that the front was an Iranian military restricted area. As the deputy chief of mission of the British Embassy in Iraq, it is impossible for him to be unaware of the potential dangers of doing so. Perhaps the most likely explanation is that he really has another purpose.
observed that among the foreigners arrested this time, in addition to Whitaker, there were also Westerners such as Polish biologists who Iran said were "related to the Zionist regime." The identity of these people is relatively sensitive, and they are all hanging around Iran's military areas. It is no wonder that Iran is suspicious - they are probably helping Israel detect Iran's military activities.
Don't underestimate soil collection. By analyzing the chemical elements in the soil of the military restricted area, it may be possible to infer the compound content and explosive power of missiles , and then determine where Iran's military activities are tending. But Whittaker only took it, and it has not yet been sent to the interested parties. Iran, which cannot prove the charges, may not go too far, but this arrest is of course a warning to the United Kingdom.
On the one hand, the relationship between Iran and the United States has always been relatively sensitive, and Iran's conventional weapons are very mediocre, while missiles are important equipment for "protecting national security." Of course, Iran has a firm attitude towards "snooping" related to missile technology; On the one hand, Iran is also one of Russia's main allies in the Middle East . Britain has been at the forefront of suppressing Russia in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Iran seizes the opportunity to beat the British side, which can be regarded as indirectly "giving Russia a sigh of relief". "Bar.
However, this may not be good news for the UK, especially for today's British Prime Minister Johnson, because domestic affairs have already made him overwhelmed. With the resignation of 46 officials, up to 70% of the British people have called for With his resignation, Johnson is facing tremendous pressure to govern and has already stated that he "may resign as prime minister", possibly in October this year. Against this background, another scandal involving the British ambassador's "espionage" emerged. Johnson's political fate was not without its ups and downs.
