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Spain will recall its ambassador to Iran for consultations, unless Tehran explains and apologizes for the arrest of a Spanish consular representative, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said Tuesday.

Ignacio Perez-Cambra was detained in front of the Spanish embassy in Tehran after taking a walk with the ambassador in an area where government opponents were staging a protest rally on Monday.

The Spaniard was held for over four hours before being released.
Iran had violated the Vienna Convention regulating diplomatic relations, because it did not inform Perez-Cambra of the reasons for his arrest, Jimenez said.

Spain would recall its ambassador if Tehran did not give a 'satisfactory' response within 48 hours, the minister said. She described the incident as 'very serious and unacceptable.'