Assefi Asks U.S. to Stop Meddling in Iran's Internal Affairs
August 9, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN The United States said on Monday that intervention in Parliamentary debate by Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a cause for serious concern and that it expected Iran to respect freedom of expression, Reuters reported.
Ayatollah Khamenei stepped in on Sunday to block a debate on liberalizing the press law the kind of political reform favored by most Iranian parliamentarians.
Then on Monday, Iranian police detained leading liberal journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi at his home and carted away articles, books and other materials on the orders of the press court.
"We have serious concerns about freedom of expression that's involved in this ... the law to protect freedom of the press and debate being cut off and the arrest these things lead to serious concerns on our part," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a daily briefing.
"We would expect the government of Iran to uphold international human rights standards, including the right to freedom of expression," he added.
But repressive measures against the press in Iran will not affect the gestures towards Iran that Washington has made.
Earlier this year, the United States offered to let in Iranian carpets and other traditional exports, promised to work harder to settle financial claims and recognized grievances against Washington's Iran policy from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said she wanted to break down the "wall of distrust" that has divided the two countries since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The United States has been positive about changes in Iran despite repeated rebuffs to its attempts to open a formal dialog with the government.
Boucher said: "There certainly has been some changes, some tremendous domestic change in Iran. The process is not smooth, has not been smooth and probably won't be smooth. So we'll watch this closely as we go forward." In reaction, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi here on Tuesday refuted remarks made by the U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher regarding the recent parliamentary debates in Iran, saying it is "interference in our internal affairs".
"Iranian officials, people and their representatives in the Majlis are well aware of their country's interests," Assefi told IRNA, adding, "It is necessary for the others to refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of other states, including Iran, by observing international rules and regulations." (IRNA)
Ayatollah Khamenei stepped in on Sunday to block a debate on liberalizing the press law the kind of political reform favored by most Iranian parliamentarians.
Then on Monday, Iranian police detained leading liberal journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi at his home and carted away articles, books and other materials on the orders of the press court.
"We have serious concerns about freedom of expression that's involved in this ... the law to protect freedom of the press and debate being cut off and the arrest these things lead to serious concerns on our part," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a daily briefing.
"We would expect the government of Iran to uphold international human rights standards, including the right to freedom of expression," he added.
But repressive measures against the press in Iran will not affect the gestures towards Iran that Washington has made.
Earlier this year, the United States offered to let in Iranian carpets and other traditional exports, promised to work harder to settle financial claims and recognized grievances against Washington's Iran policy from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said she wanted to break down the "wall of distrust" that has divided the two countries since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The United States has been positive about changes in Iran despite repeated rebuffs to its attempts to open a formal dialog with the government.
Boucher said: "There certainly has been some changes, some tremendous domestic change in Iran. The process is not smooth, has not been smooth and probably won't be smooth. So we'll watch this closely as we go forward." In reaction, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi here on Tuesday refuted remarks made by the U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher regarding the recent parliamentary debates in Iran, saying it is "interference in our internal affairs".
"Iranian officials, people and their representatives in the Majlis are well aware of their country's interests," Assefi told IRNA, adding, "It is necessary for the others to refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of other states, including Iran, by observing international rules and regulations." (IRNA)