A FORMER diplomat accused of trying to smuggle military equipment to Iran is to take his fight against extradition to the US to the House of Lords.

Nosratollah Tajik, who served as Iran's ambassador to Jordan from 1999 to 2003, is said to have been the UK link in an illegal arms network spanning three continents.

Last month, Mr Tajik's appeal against a judge's decision that he should face charges in the US was rejected by the High Court. But he is to keep fighting, taking his case to the House of Lords. Should that appeal fail, Mr Tajik could take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Tajik, who lives in Coxhoe, is wanted over a sting operation during which US agents posed as arms dealers selling night vision goggles worth £50,000 for export to Iran.

Last year, an extradition hearing was told Mr Tajik had been filmed meeting the officers.

Mr Tajik's lawyers claimed the agents acted illegally.

However, at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year, it was ruled appropriate for Mr Tajik to be prosecuted in the US.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that Mr Tajik has lodged an appeal case with the House of Lords."

The spokesman was unable to say when the case would be heard, but it could be several months away.

Mr Tajik remains on bail.

Mr Tajik lives with his wife, Mahboubeh Sadghi'nia, and has two sons. He was made an honorary fellow at Durham University in 2004 and taught Farsi at the university.