Iranian diplomat accused of Brazil child molestation

The Brazilian government has said that it will seek an explanation from Iran, after an Iranian diplomat was accused of molesting underage girls at a swimming pool in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia. The Iranian official was questioned by police, following complaints from parents. He was however released after invoking diplomatic immunity. Iran's embassy in Brazil has denied the allegations, stating that they were the result of a "cultural misunderstanding". It also accused the Brazilian media of deliberately sensationalising the incident. The Brazilian foreign minister, Antonio Patriota, called the allegations very worrying. He added that he would be taking the allegations very seriously and would ask the Iranian embassy for clarification before deciding on what action to take. Mr Patriota said that: "Personally I would consider it unacceptable if any Brazilian diplomat conducted himself in this manner in the country in which he was accredited," The Iranian diplomat, who cannot be named, was accused of inappropriately touching girls between the ages of 9 and 15 at a pool in a private club last weekend, Brazilian media has reported. The father of one of the girls a Brazilian news agency that the diplomat was nearly lynched by the angry parents before security staff intervened. The unnamed father added: "People wanted to kill him”.