Belgium has withdrawn its ambassador from Iran after a court in Tehran sentenced a Belgian aid worker to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes.


Olivier Vandekastel was convicted of espionage against Iran, collaboration with the US government, foreign currency laundering and money laundering.


Vandecastel has denied any wrongdoing and Belgium has said the charges have been "dismissed".


Iran wants to replace the 41-year-old aid worker with diplomat Assadullah Asadi, who was jailed last year for planning to bomb an anti-deportation group meeting in Belgium.


Last month, Belgium's Constitutional Court suspended the controversial prisoner swap pending a final decision on an appeal against the opposition.


Norwegian Refugee Council and other aid agencies.


He left the country last year but returned in February, closing his apartment in Tehran against the advice of the Belgian government.


He was arrested by Iran's Revolutionary Guards during his brief visit and taken to the notorious Tehran prison, where many European and American citizens were held on espionage charges.


His family claims he was subjected to "inhumane conditions" such as torture in detention, and he went on hunger strike in mid-November to protest his treatment.


For the first time in seven weeks, Belgian consular officials were allowed to speak with Vandekastel. He told them that he had been brought to court without the knowledge of Belgian diplomats or Iranian lawyers and found guilty of all the crimes without telling him.


Last month, his family said the Belgian prime minister told them he had been sentenced to 28 years in prison. Iran's judiciary has neither confirmed nor rejected this decision.


The Justice Ministry's Mezan news agency reported Tuesday that Tehran's Revolutionary Court sentenced van der Kassel to three-and-a-half years in prison for espionage, collaboration with an enemy government and one-quarter to two years for money laundering. Half year imprisonment. One and a half years in jail. 74 people jailed for smuggling foreign currency


The agency added that the decision is not final and the accused has the right to appeal within 20 days.


Belgium's foreign ministry said it had summoned Iran's ambassador to respond to the report.


"Iran has not released any official information about Oliver Windcastle or his trial," it said in a statement.


"Belgium condemns this arbitrary detention and is doing everything possible to end it," he added.


A spokesman for the Windcastle family said they were devastated by the news.


"Belgium must do everything possible to bring Oliver back from this dictatorial regime


The family said the prime minister told them last month that a prisoner exchange was the only way to release them.