A Swiss citizen arrested on suspicion of spying in Iran has died in prison, according to Iranian state media.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said the man was being held with another inmate at a prison in the eastern city of Semnan when he “suicided” on Thursday.
The judicial-run Mizan news agency said prison officials took immediate action to save the Swiss national’s life, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Mizan did not provide further details about the man’s identity.
“This morning, a Swiss national committed suicide in Semnan Prison,” said a statement posted on Mizan’s website, attributed to Semnan Chief Justice Mohammad Sadegh Akbari.
The statement added that he was “arrested by Iranian security forces on suspicion of espionage” and that the incident was “under investigation.”
The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the death, adding that the Swiss embassy was in contact with Iranian authorities.
In recent years, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mainly on espionage and security-related charges.
Switzerland plays an important intermediary role between the US and Tehran, representing US interests in Iran and sharing messages between the two countries.
