Second Iranian Diplomat In Europe Defects, Seeks Asylum, Amid US Pressure Campaign

Two Iranian diplomats in Europe have recently defected and sought asylum, possibly spurred by US pressure. Gholamreza Derikvand, Iran's chargé d'affaires in Vienna, is reportedly seeking asylum in Switzerland with his family. The Iranian government has neither confirmed nor denied Derikvand's defection, possibly due to strategic caution. Derikvand was considered a rising star in Iran's diplomatic corps before his sudden departure. The news of Derikvand's defection broke via Iran International, a media outlet accused of ties to Israeli intelligence. Iranian media claims to have found a broadcast studio of Iran International in Tel Aviv. The defection aligns with increasing US pressure and follows deadly protests in Iran last month. Another Iranian diplomat, Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, also defected and sought asylum in Switzerland last month. Such defections pose an embarrassment for Iran's government, encouraging official silence.