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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |||
| EU delegation barred from speaking to foreign media in Iran | |||
| 2015-06-08 | |||
| Tehran -- An EU delegation was stopped on Sunday from speaking to foreign media in Tehran, with an Iranian security official threatening action against reporters and photographers if they tried to film the incident. Having called a Press conference at their hotel in the capital, the plans of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament were disrupted, prompting an angry exchange on the street. After being ushered off hotel premises, Elmar Brok, chairman of the committee, angrily told the security official: “You cannot stop me from talking to reporters.”
A crew from Press TV, Iran’s English language channel which is broadcast worldwide, was invited to interview Brok but he cancelled the engagement. Foreign journalists were earlier told by a hotel manager that there was no permission for a press conference. Photographers and video reporters were also warned by the security official that they would face repercussions if they used their equipment in any way.
Sunday’s incident occurred despite the group of seven European Union lawmakers being invited to Tehran by their Iranian counterparts. “This is an old behaviour which has nothing to do with the new politics of Iran,” Brok later told AFP by telephone, alluding to hopes of better political relations if there is a nuclear deal. “It leaves a bad impression but this unhappy incident did not spoil the visit,” he added.
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| Posted by:Steve White |