Spying charges: Iran confirms arrest of German cyclist; foreign ministry yet to confirm

Iran on Saturday acknowledged for the first time that it had detained a German cyclist on allegations of spying, in what is likely an effort by Tehran to pressure Germany amid its war with Israel.

The semiofficial Mehr news agency published footage of the unnamed man’s arrest, though it did not specify when it took place. It said he was detained in Markazi province, where Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor is located.

German news agency dpa reported that the arrest happened last year, and that the man is currently being held in Tehran’s Evin prison, known for housing Western nationals and political prisoners.

The German foreign ministry declined to comment on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its offensive on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Military officials confirmed a second wave of strikes on key facilities in Isfahan and western Iran, following an earlier round of airstrikes on 13 June. The Israeli army said it is now targeting Iranian military infrastructure in the southwest of the country. It was not immediately clear which sites were hit.

Shortly after, Iranian state media reported loud blasts in two cities in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan. Air defences were activated in both areas. Fars news agency said a large column of smoke was seen rising above the port city of Mahshahr, while “frightening explosions” were heard in the provincial capital, Ahvaz.