Iran: Tehran Blames West for Riots
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi has accused Western nations and media of supporting violent protests in an attempt to create anarchy and split apart the Islamic Republic.

The BBC and Voice of America “are the mouthpiece of their government's public diplomacy," Qashqavi said during a press conference today. "They have two guidelines regarding Iran. One is to intensify ethnic and racial rifts within Iran and secondly to disintegrate the Iranian territories."

He added: "Any contact with these channels, under any pretext or in any form, means contacting the enemy of the Iranian nation. How can they say they are unbiased when their TV channel is like a war headquarters and in fact they are blatantly commanding riots? Therefore their claims are absolutely wrong. Their governments have ratified decisions so that they can act in this way."

Iranian authorities have become increasingly agitated at what they claim is Western meddling. Britain and the U.S. have denied such accusations, but years of ill will between Washington and Iran are playing like background music as Tehran appears a city divided between reformist protesters and government-backed militias.

And as the power struggle inside Iran's political class appeared to intensify, with reformist and conservative leaders exchanging sharp statements that blamed each other for last week's deadly street violence, authorities announced irregularities that could affect 3 million votes in 50 cities. >>> Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo | Monday, June 22, 2009

Netanyahu: Change in Iran Could Bring Peaceful Ties
YNET NEWS: Prime Minister Netanyahu tells German newspaper he has 'no doubt' Iran's citizens would choose a different government if allowed to vote freely. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman calls Netanyahu's previous comments on Iran 'provocation'

Peaceful relations between Israel and Iran would be possible if new leadership took power in Tehran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with German newspaper Bild published on Monday.

"There is no conflict between the Iranian people and the people of Israel and under a different regime the friendly relations that prevailed in the past could be restored," Netanyahu told German daily Bild.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was officially re-elected in a June 12 vote that the opposition has denounced as a fraud, and that has provoked the most violent unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution which ousted the US-backed shah.

Iran has accused the West and its media of playing a role in fomenting unrest.

Netanyahu said he had "no doubt" that Iran's citizens would choose a different government if allowed to vote freely.

"I think the true nature of the Iranian regime has been unmasked," he told Bild. "What we have seen in Iran is a powerful desire on the part of the Iranian people to be free." >>> Dudi Cohen | Monday, June 22, 2009

Iran Summons Slovenian Diplomat
MEHR NEWS: TEHRAN, Mar. 10 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned Slovenian Charge d’affaires Matjaž Puc whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council to protest against insulting religious sanctities in Europe.

The Foreign Ministry expressed deep concerns about the recent increases in religious desecration, especially insulting the holy prophet of Islam, Muhammad bin Abdullah (PBUH), in some European countries.

“The Islamic Republic believes that the freedom of insulting religions should not be promoted under the pretext of supporting the freedom of speech.”

The European Union is expected to abide by its commitments to the Article 20 of United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which prohibits any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, the Ministry announced.

The Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the reprinting of one of the 12 sacrilegious cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in newspapers in Denmark last month that had enraged Muslims in 2006.

It also protested over a blasphemous movie about the holy Quran produced in the Netherlands and disrespectful cartoons of Prophet Muhammad appeared in a Swedish newspaper.

The ministry criticized the EU countries for misusing the freedom of speech, saying such actions are blatant insults to all Muslims around the world.

The Slovenian charge d’affaires said all countries are duty-bound to respect divine religions, adding that he will convey Iran’s protest to the European Union. [Source: Iran summons Slovenian diplomat >>>]

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