Iran: Envoy release symbolizes our security power

"The location where the Islamic Republic's commercial attache to Peshawar Heshmatollah Attarzadeh-Niyaki was held was identified by Iran's intelligence agents. He was brought home after a series of complex and complicated operations," Mehmanparast said on Tuesday.

He added that diplomatic efforts and meetings between Iranian and Pakistani authorities had failed to produce specific results.

"Finally, the [Iranian] intelligence agents themselves freed our diplomat. The release of the diplomat shows the strength of Iran's security power," the spokesman said.

Attarzadeh-Niyaki was said to have been released on Tuesday. He was snatched by unidentified gunmen in an ambush in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan, on November 13, 2008, while on his way to the Iranian consulate. His car was sprayed with bullets and his driver was killed.

Mehmanparast pointed to activities of intelligence services of certain Western countries including the US and Israel in the region and said: "They came to our region and established military presence in different countries with the slogan of fighting terrorism."

"[However], in practice, instead of fighting terrorism, they created and encouraged terrorist groups and afflicted our region with turmoil and insecurity," he concluded.


/Press TV/