BEIRUT: Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told a local newspaper his ministry had no information or knowledge that five Iranians kidnapped in Syria last year had been moved to north Lebanon, as reported by Iranian media.

Charbel was quoted by An-Nahar newspaper Sunday.

Iran’s English-language Press TV, quoting a source in north Lebanon, reported Saturday that five Iranian engineers kidnapped in Syria in December had been moved to north Lebanon.

The Iranian media outlet described the source as a tribal figure in north Lebanon who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Dec. 21, Press TV reported that five Iranian technicians working in Syria were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the city of Homs.

According to Press TV, two other Iranians, who were trying to obtain information about the missing men, were also kidnapped. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Syria's state news agency SANA had said that eight engineers "of different nationalities" disappeared after heading by bus to their work at a power plant in Homs province.

Asked by An-Nahar about the reports of the transfer of the five Iranians to north Lebanon, Tehran’s Ambassador to Beirut Ghadanfar Roknabadi said: “We have heard this news and ask the Lebanese government to investigate the matter.”

“In the event the reports are true, we urge [the government] to conduct the appropriate investigations to clarify the matter,” he added.

In early January, a previously unknown Syrian opposition group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of the five Iranians in Syria and warned both Iran and Hezbollah of the consequences of supporting Damascus.

The previously unheard of group, calling itself the "Movement against the Shiite tide in Syria,” made the claim in a fax sent to the Nicosia offices of Agence France Presse.

“We warn Iran and Hezbollah that their members will face the same fate as the five Iranians if they don’t immediately stop providing all forms of support to the criminal regime,” the group said in the fax.