Iran diplomat on spy charges: report

Egyptian authorities have arrested an Iranian diplomat on charges of espionage, the state news agency MENA reported on Sunday, saying he has faced questioning by the public prosecutor.

"The state security prosecution today began an inquiry into Iranian diplomat Qasim al-Hosseini, who works at the Iranian interests section in Cairo," said MENA.

Hosseini had been accused of "spying for a foreign state (Iran) in order to harm Egypt's interests," it added.

In Tehran, the Arabic-language television channel Al-Alam quoted an informed source as saying that Hosseini "is currently in his office and working normally" in Cairo.

"We are following the case," he added without elaborating.