Iran: Former nuclear official released on bail

An Iranian court on Wednesday released on bail a former nuclear negotiator who reportedly faces espionage charges, state television said. Hossein Mousavian was part of the nuclear negotiating team under the reformist predecessor of Iran's current hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - and he is seen as close to one of Ahmadinejad's top rivals, powerful cleric-politican Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mousavian was arrested April 30, but authorities have not announced charges against him. An unofficial news agency said the charges were likely related to espionage but gave no details. Government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said Wednesday that Mousavian's detention "was not necessarily related to the nuclear issue." But he did not elaborate.