Austrian Citizen Released by Iran Authorities

Iran has released Austrian citizen Christian Weber, who was detained in West Azerbaijan Province for unspecified crimes. The release was facilitated by the Iranian judiciary and attended by Wolfgang Dietrich Heim, the Austrian ambassador, who expressed gratitude for the humane treatment Weber received while in custody. The Austrian government had previously confirmed Weber's arrest was not related to the protests following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022, which sparked widespread unrest. Iranian authorities cited 'Islamic mercy' as the reason for Weber's release, although details of his charges remain unclear. Amidst this, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian emphasized that since he took office, no weapons have been transferred to Russia, while asserting Iran's commitment to its missile program despite Western sanctions. He also addressed concerns regarding the morality police, promising to ensure they do not harass women.