Iranian teachers detained on work permit issues in UAE freed

The UAE’s ambassador in Washington has hinted that his country is no longer bound by its commitment not to enrich uranium, as Iran is allowed to carry out such enrichment under its recent deal with Western powers, according to a senior American congressman.

The State Department has declined to comment. Now, since the deal is expected to move forward, as the US Congress will not stand in the way, the UAE will might seek to change the 2009 pact with the US.

Iran provides teaching staff for 10 Iranian schools in the UAE which serve an emigre population estimated in the hundreds of thousands, and it summoned the Emirati charge d’affaires earlier this week to protest the teachers’ detention.

On October 11, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the UAE chargé d’affaires in the Islamic Republic over the arrest of the Iranian teachers, asking the envoy to take urgent measures for their release.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hasan Qashqavi is quoted by IRNA Friday as saying that the teachers, who were detained in Al Ain, were released but provided no further details.

Phone calls to the school and the court were not answered.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said on Monday the teachers were having a “bad experience” in prison even though they had previously worked in Al Ain on their Dubai visas without any problem.