TEHRAN Information Minister, Ali Younessi, Tuesday called President Mohammad Khatami's reform programs irreversible, and observed that reforms would go on within the framework of the state legislation and religious values.
He also underscored the role of encouraging the public to participate in state affairs as what would materialize the legitimacy of the system.
Younessi made the remarks at a meeting with Iran's diplomats abroad. He also addressed them on the opportunities, challenges and solutions in Iran's current political atmosphere.
In his address, Younessi touched on such topics as Iran's growing international credibility, a rise in self-determination of the public, political charm of society, and a widening gap in the counterrevolutionary camp.
Younessi said that among the challenges facing Iran were the unification of some revolutionary groups with the counterrevolutionary camp, encouraging the idea of the separation of religion from politics.
To combat those challenges, he noted, public participation in state affairs should be encouraged, security in economic, cultural, political and social areas should be guaranteed, and basic fundamentals of the revolution should be safeguarded.
Younessi said providing security to the public in all areas, and campaign against terrorist activities were major policies on the agenda of his ministry.
Speaking about the case of the Jewish Iranians charged with spying for the Zionist regime, he said the Jews had threatened Iran's national security, and that his ministry strongly advocated an open hearing for them.
Last year, some thirteen Jewish Iranians were arrested in the southern Iranian Province of Fars on charges of spying for Israel.
They were later found guilty of the charges, and received sentences ranging from two to fifteen years imprisonment.
(IRNA)