Faked visas for Iranian pilgrims under examination: FM spokesman

Tehran, Nov 1, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said here on Tuesday details of faked visas for Iranian Hajj pilgrims are under examination. Talking to reporters during his weekly press briefing, he said a network out of the normal procedure is involved in issuing faked visas for Iranian Hajj pilgrims. He explained that a number of Iranian pilgrims have been deported from Saudi Arabia, adding this was not exclusively done to Iranian pilgrims since a number of pilgrims from other countries have had the similar experiences. Mehmanparast further pointed to the Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi’s correspondence with his counterparts in a number of world countries and said he has sent the letters to provide them with illuminating information about the latest US scenarios against Iran. He stressed that Iran regarded such allegations as a hasty, unwise and baseless act. The Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated that Tehran regarded such accusations as incorrect and categorically rejected them. The letters emphasized that such accusations seek certain objectives like sowing discord among regional states, reinforcing anti-Iran sentiments and tarnishing Iran-Saudi Arabia relations, Mehmanparast noted. As for the letter sent to the US officials, he said it was an answer to an earlier letter by Washington. Mehmanparast stressed that it was the right of Iranian nation to seek official apology from US authorities for leveling allegations against Iran which were absolutely baseless. He further advised US officials to correct their own performance instead of insisting on treading in wrong paths in their foreign policy. /end