US kicks out two Iranian 'spies'

The US government has expelled two Iranian security guards at Iran’s UN Mission for activities “incompatible with their duties,” a US official said today, using the diplomatic language for spying.

The Iranians were caught on three occasions taking photos of infrastructure, modes of transportation and New York City landmarks, the official said.

The first incident was in June 2002, the second in November 2003, and after they were stopped recently while taking photographs, the government asked them to leave the country.

The two Iranians left the United States in the last few days, the official said.

Richard Grenell, spokesman for the US Mission to the United Nations, confirmed the expulsions but gave no details.

“We asked them to leave because we were very concerned about their activities, which were incompatible with their stated duties,” he said.

Iran is one of seven nations branded by the US State Department annually as state supporters of terrorism.

The United States accuses Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons. US Secretary of State Colin Powell hinted last week that Iran faced the prospect of UN economic sanctions if it did not prove to the world it had no nuclear weapons.

Earlier this month, the UN nuclear agency rebuked Iran for covering up its programmes and warned it had little time left to disprove it had a nuclear weapons programme.