For the third time in three years, an Iranian diplomat in Oslo has defected in a move that will almost certainly put a dampener on Norway's relations with Iran, though previous defections have not led to the firestorm such a defection potentially could. Though details are understandably sketchy, it seems evident that more such defections may occur in the near future.

“He wants to remain anonymous out of consideration to himself and his family,” attorney Jørgen Løvdal told newspaper Dagbladet. “He doesn’t want to say anything about the background for why he has applied for asylum, or the circumstances around it.”

Dagbladet reported that the defection occurred in December, and that the former diplomat and his family have since been living at a secret location.

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