An Iranian diplomat suspected of leading an alleged bomb attack plot in Europe has received a 20-year prison sentence in Belgium.

Iran PressEurope: Asadollah Asadi, 48, faced trial in Antwerp, Belgium, last week, alongside three other Iranians over his involvement in an "alleged" 2018 plot against the US-backed terrorist group Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) in France.

In July 2018 and at the same time as the visit of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani to Austria and Switzerland, Belgium claimed that Asadollah Asadi, an Iranian diplomat based in Vienna, has been arrested on suspicion of plotting to bomb a Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) meeting.

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The MKO has carried out numerous terrorist attacks against Iranian civilians and government officials since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Out of the nearly 17,000 Iranians killed in terrorist attacks over the past four decades, about 12,000 have fallen victim to MKO's acts of terror.

Washington and the European Union have removed the MKO from their lists of terrorist organizations. The anti-Iran terrorists enjoy the freedom of activity in the US and Europe and even hold meetings with American and EU officials.

The trial of Asadi, which started on Friday, was the first time a European Union (EU) state has charged an Iranian official with "suspected" terrorism charges.

Belgium's court spokesperson announced the verdict saying: "For the Iranian diplomat suspect, in this case, a 20-year prison term. For two other suspects, an 18-year prison term, and for the fourth suspect, a 15-year prison term."

Tehran has dismissed the trial, calling allegations of a state-sponsored attack a "false flag" stunt by the Paris-based MKO, which was the alleged target of the plot.

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Jurists call on UN to release Iranian diplomat in Belgium

Iranian embassy in Belgium rejects Western media claims as ridiculous

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