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The Iranian government welcomed on Saturday France’s decision to disapprove the US extradition of an Iranian prisoner, who was faced with an accusation of purchasing and illegally exporting electronic parts, a recent report said.

“His innocence was evident, (but) we still appreciate the French judiciary move in granting his freedom”, said the spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, upon the arrival of Engineer Majid Kakavand back to his home land.

Upon his arrival, Kakavand told the media, “I consider it my right to lodge a complaint against US officials at the earliest time”.

He was seized by authorities in March last year. Based on a news report, Kakavand was sent back to his country on Friday aboard Iran Air straight from France after the request to extradite the engineer was officially turned down.

The accusation against Kakavand involved the purchase of measuring instruments and electronic components with the help of a Malaysia-based firm, and having them exported to Iran from 2006 until 2008. According to a statement released by Washington, the Iranian had bought high-calibre technologies similar with those used by the military. The US government also said that he incurred violation to export laws by shipping the items without securing a special licence for such operation.

However, French government does not employ the same policies for the Islamic nation as well as for the Malaysian company concerned with Kakavand’s transaction.

Meanwhile, another Iran national named Ali Vakili Rad is currently in France to facethe charge of murdering the deposed shah’s former prime minister.

On Wednesday, a court in France declined the request of the US to repatriate an Iranian businessman who was charged of violating US embargo on exports to the Islamic country of Iran. He earned the suspicion of the US after he purchased equipment for a front firm in Malaysia shipped covertly to military firms in Iran, which was involved in the nation’s controversial nuclear programme.

The court opposed the request to repatriate businessman Majid Kakavand on the reason that he did not violate French law, and that the equipment that he purchased was not essentially military in character.

The court directed that the businessman be freed, and that the bail amounting to $260,000, as well as his passport, be returned.

The US had intently worked on the case, and the decision of the French court left the Justice Department officers unhappy. Although US officials were not present during the release of the final verdict last Wednesday, they appeared in various hearings relative to the case as the Iranian was caught in March 2009 by virtue of a US warrant upon reaching an airport in Paris, France for a vacation.

The equipment, which US authorities call as dual-use materials that can be used for military purposes, include resistors, connectors, capacitors, pressure sensors, and reflectometres.

However, Adm. Jean-Louis Barbier, the weapons expert in France who studied the materials, said that he inspected them against present regulations and discovered that they were not dual-use as the US claimed.

Prosecutors in France on Wednesday denied a request of the United States to deport an Iranian engineer charged by the US authorities of purchasing sensitive technology and unlawful exportation of the devices to Iran.

The US government filed suits against 37-year-old Majid Kakavand for violating the country’s export legislations concerning dual-use technology, which can be utilised for military aims. Authorities in the US are seeking for the extradition of the Iranian engineer to put him into trial.

In a Paris court trial, the prosecutors said that the French weapons agency DGA made a conclusion that the electronic components bought by the Iranian engineer could not be regarded as potentially risky dual-use technology.

“The allegations by US authorities were not punishable in France at that time”, said the lead prosecutor during the hearing, which was attended by justice officials from the US.

Kakavand, through the aid of a Malaysian firm, purchased measuring devices and their component parts in the states of California, Alabama and New Jersey, and unlawfully shipped the items to Iran, alleged by the authorities in the US.

On 20 March 2009, the Iranian engineer was arrested by French authorities in an airport in Paris. The Iranian government is urging France to release Kakavand.

The case of Kakavand arose along with the French government’s demand for the release of the 24-year-old French academic Clotilde Reiss from Iran. Reiss was charged by the Iranian government of violating the country’s national security.

Authorities in Tehran have urged the French government to free an Iranian national facing  extradition to the US.

Majid Kakavand, 37, is currently being held in France after being arrested at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport in March of last year on charges of breaking the trade embargo with Iran.

The Iranian engineer is accused of sending electrical components and measuring devices to his homeland using a Malaysian company as cover.

The Americans have applied for his extradition and the case is currently awaiting a hearing in the appeal court in Paris.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said yesterday (TUESDAY) that he believed the French were being placed under pressure to comply with Washington’s demands rather than being allowed to make up their own minds on the merits of the case.

He told reporters: “This is due to political pressure from the United States and it is illegal. They should take some serious action and free him as soon as possible.

“He is going on trial despite being innocent. We denounce France’s act.”

According to American sources, the items in question had both civilian and military applications and were therefore subject to regulations governing their export to Iran.

The accused’s legal team, however, maintain the components were not high spec enough to have a use in military or space technology.

Mr Mehmanparast said the documents presented as evidence in the case were “forgeries” and said the who episode was as a  result of “political motives”