Families of missing Iranian diplomats arrive in Beirut
Preparations for prisoner exchange with Israel being completed in Lebanon. As part of deal, Jewish state to deliver report on fate of four Iranians who vanished in 1982
The family members were expected to meet with Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Kassem, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouda Siniora, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and a representative of the United Nations secretary-general.
As part of the prisoner swap deal, Israel is expected to submit a report to the UN regarding the fate of the four Iranian diplomats, who Iran claims were captured by Israel 26 years ago and are being held in its prisons.
The Iranian Embassy in Beirut said in a statement issued Wednesday that "the four are still alive… This is what has been revealed from our information, which is based on a number of sources, and due to the fact that there are no details or information to contradict this."
Iran placed the responsibility for handling the matter on the international community as well. "This issue was never a political issue, but a diplomatic issue, and its handling falls on the shoulders of the international community," the statement went on to say.
