Iran has dismissed a report by the U.S. daily New York Times claiming 12 Iranians had been arrested in Afghanistan for allegedly undermining the country’s interim government. Denying the report, cabinet secretary Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, told a Tehran press conference that Iran has "no military presence in Afghanistan." For his part, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi said that "the news has no authenticity at all and no Iranian national has been arrested in Afghanistan." Denouncing the report as "poisonous propaganda and malicious adventurism", Assefi said, "Such propaganda ballyhoo and media stunts are aimed at exerting pressure on Iran and upsetting constructive cooperation between Tehran and Kabul.
Cutting them loose, are they? "In the event you are captured or killed, Mr. Phelps, the Agency will deny any connection." |