Egyptian charged with spying for Iran

Egypt’s general prosecutor said today an Egyptian was arrested and charged with spying for Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard and providing them with information to carry out terrorist attacks in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Eid Dabous gave Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “the best locations to carry out assassinations and terrorist operations in Egypt,” said general prosecutor Mahir Abdel Wahid.

He said Dabous gave the information to a former Iranian employee in Iran’s diplomatic office in Cairo who is now on the run from Egyptian authorities.

Dabous was also accused of providing the Revolutionary Guard with information about foreigners living in Saudi Arabia to help carry out terrorist attacks against them. Islamic militants have carried out several attacks against Westerners in Saudi Arabia, including yesterday’s attack on the US consulate in Jeddah.

Dabous, a former director of a religious school in Saudi Arabia, received €37,687 for his work and was promised over £500,000 in return for supervising terrorist attacks in Egypt, said Abdel Wahid.

The Iranian, Mahmoud Reda Hussain, invited Dabous to Iran at the end of 2001 where he introduced him to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, said Abdel Wahid

Relations between Iran and Egypt have improved recently, but talks have been strained for years.

Egypt has accused Iran of supporting the militants who killed President Anwar Sadat and Iran was angered when Egypt took in its ousted shah.

Egyptian authorities arrested Dabous in Egypt but no date was given for his trial. He will be judged by a security court that could issue the death penalty if he is convicted.