Iran Says Its Guards Were Just Taking Pictures (hmmm)

Yahoo via Reuters ^

[Dallas]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Two Iranian nationals seen by a New York police officer photographing city landmarks were just tourists nearing the end of their stay in the United States, Iran's mission to the United Nations said on Friday.

"It was these two guys on Saturday, June 22, taking pictures of themselves in Battery Park" at the southern end of Manhattan, said Mohammad Hossein Nosrat, mission spokesman.

The two, who work as security guards at the mission and do not have diplomatic immunity, took 1 minute 40 seconds of videotape of the park and environs, Nosrat said.

At that point, a police officer walked up to them, asked to see their identification cards and then wished them a good day, Nosrat said.

"'Have a good day!' That was it," he said. "There were thousands of tourists around."

He spoke after a U.S. official said late on Thursday that the United States wanted to question the two Iranians, who worked as security guards at Iran's U.N. mission in New York.

The U.S. official said the Iranians were seen taking pictures of area bridges and the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, potential targets for terrorist attacks against the United States like those that occurred on Sept. 11.

"The U.S. mission is looking into the matter," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Nosrat said neither the Iranian U.N. mission nor the two men had been contacted by police or U.S. officials.

ABC News reported that the United States planned to expel the two men. But both U.S. and Iranian officials denied this was the case.

[EggsAckley]

I've travelled a lot and I can't remember taking pictures of bridges, except for the really ancient ones in Europe; the historically important, centuries-old bridges. Never have felt like taking a shot of a fifty year old American bridge.......Kick the bums out.

[ContentiousObjector]

When I was in New York I took photos of the major bridges,

Keep in mind where these dudes were comming from, they were probably taking pictures of their bathroom

[Blood of Tyrants]

Then again you were raised in a country where the impossible was achieved. Most Iranians still live in mud huts and don't have indoor plumbing. They can't even conceive of a bridge 2 miles long.

If I were able to take a tour of a civilization that was 200 years advanced than mine, I would take all kinds of pictures, too.

[EggsAckley]

LOL! Yeah, I can see your point. Some places I visited in Europe were worthy of bathroom photos, so I could prove to the nay-sayers that our life IS better here.

BUT.....given the current climate of hyper-vigilance, these ME types are either just plain stupid for doing this, or else they're doing it to sort of give us the finger. Either way, it makes me nervous.

[Ditto]

Keep in mind where these dudes were comming from, they were probably taking pictures of their bathroom...

LOL. So true. I have seen Chinese taking pictures of grocery stores.

[hellinahandcart]

They left out the part about these "tourists" taking pictures of the tunnel entrances.

I don't believe a word out of the Iranian mission and I have my doubts about anything that comes out of the US mission. AND, I will trust a local station over Reuters any day, even if it's ABC.

Never have felt like taking a shot of a fifty year old American bridge.......Kick the bums out

Just FYI, the Brooklyn Bridge is over 100 years old, and it's a beaut. *I* have taken many pictures of it, and I live here.

[Shermy]

"If I were able to take a tour of a civilization that was 200 years advanced than mine, I would take all kinds of pictures, too."

And what do you think about those tourists from Iowa taking the same pictures?

[hellinahandcart]

Did you mean that for me?--that wasn't my quote.

Nothing suspicious about Brooklyn Bridge pictures. I really have to wonder, though, what is film-worthy about the entrance to the Holland or Brooklyn Battery tunnels. They are both monkey-butt ugly.

The pictures might have significant value, though, if the tunnels were blown up. They'd probably be a hotter seller than martyr necklaces in the West Bank.

[hellinahandcart]

Iowa?

[ThirstyMan]

Just FYI, the Brooklyn Bridge is over 100 years old, and it's a beaut. *I* have taken many pictures of it, and I live here.

Well, I'm glad people are keeping an eye on suspicious folk of Iranian descent, just the same. Imagine going through life with a name like mohammad nosrat?

[Shermy]

Sorry, meant it for B.o.T.

Iowa?

O.k. How about New Jersey?

[Raging Against the machine]

God, no wonder people hate americans.... you are so quick to criticize.....

[Britton J Wingfield]

A friend of mine's cousin came to visit from Colombia. He was so amazed by seeing his first big-rig that he wanted hi picture taken with it. Apparently they don't have any in Colombia, since the roads won't support them.

[hunter112]

When my wife and I hosted a Ukrainian exchange student, she took pictures of the supermarket, too! But just the same, its good to question these Iranians. Besides, no doubt the bridge has photographs all over the Internet, and in various books already in public libraries.

[hellinahandcart]

So from which well-liked and non-critical country do you hail?

[vannrox]

[rmlew]

Picking your name from a communist band. At least you are honest.

[ApesForEvolution]

Any updates on this peculiar 'non' event?!

[Dallas]

Wow...I'd forgotten all about this non-event...

If there was any more info, I must have missed it.