TEHRAN -- Over 1,067 foreign correspondents received visas to enter the country and were provided necessary facilities in the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2002), the Public Relations Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance said on Tuesday.

In the first three months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2002) the ministry also granted visas to 287 foreign reporters.

The reporters, from 38 countries, came to Iran to cover political as well as social and cultural events in the country, the ministry announced.

Its Press and Foreign Media Department also said it has accommodated 85 foreign media offices in the country.