Status of Office
The Iranian liaison office in Arbil has been active and operating since 1992. The various governments dispute the exact status of the office.
According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, the detained Iranians had been working in Arbil with official sanction, and the liaison office was in the process of becoming a full consulate; however the office was yet to be classified as a consulate with diplomatic protection.
Iran states that based on an agreement between the Governments of Iran and Iraq its status was officially changed to a Consulate General, and official note verbale (diplomatic notes) were exchanged between the two countries accordingly. According to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations consulates enjoy immunity and all members of the U.N. have to respect such immunity.
Officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government said that consular activities, such as the issuance of visas, had been carried out by the office staff since 1992, and they were treated as if they were accredited diplomats.
The U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the detainees were not diplomats.
Read more about this topic: U.S. Raid On The Iranian Liaison Office In Arbil
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