Iran

Iran lashes out at foreign “interference”

Article published on the 2009-06-27 Latest update 2009-06-28 09:25 TU

Friday prayers in Tehran, 26 June 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticised US President Barack Obama, admonishing him for “interfering” in Iranian internal affairs.

"He (Obama) who spoke of reforms and changes, why did he interfere and comment in a way that disregards convention and courtesy," Ahmadinejad was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as asking.

On Friday, Obama said Iran's "outrageous" crackdown on demonstrators would affect his ability to hold direct talks with Iran.

“There is no doubt that any direct dialogue or diplomacy with Iran is going to be affected by the events of the last several weeks," Obama said, referring to deadly clashes between security forces and demonstrators protesting against what they claim was Ahmadinejad's fraudulent re-election.

However, Obama said talks between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany over Tehran's nuclear programme would likely continue.

Also on Friday, a group of 150-200 protestors was able to enter the Iranian embassy compound in Stockholm, where they cornered an employee and attacked him.

"The protest was largely peaceful except... when an unconfirmed number of people got through the fence and attacked one of the embassy staff," said police officer Ulf Hoglund.

In Tehran, Sweden’s Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked to explain how Sweden – who is responsible for foreign embassies’ security – allowed this to happen.                                

On Saturday, the streets of Tehran were largely calm after security forces promised to suppress any further protests.