Posted on 01/06/2010 6:35:12 PM PST by nuconvert
Scandinavian media are reporting that a high-ranking Iranian diplomat in Norway has resigned over the recent clampdowns on anti-government protesters in Iran.
"It was the Iranian authorities' treatment of demonstrators during the Christmas week that made me realize I couldn't continue," Mohammed Reza Heydari was quoted as saying in a report by Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Iranian officials have rejected the reports as rumor. A report by the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr quoted a source in the Foreign Ministry as denying the report and describing it as part of a Western “psychological war” against Iran.
"The report is baseless. A diplomat returns to the country when his mission is finished in another country," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told the Reuters news agency.
"Sometimes they stay longer in the country where they served as diplomats for various reasons, including waiting for the end of school semesters of their children," he added.
The diplomat, meanwhile, appears to be keeping a low media profile. A representative from NRK's press office told The Times that Heydari "does not wish any contact with other media" at the moment.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
hi there
pong
Hope he doesn’t have too much close family left there. Other than that, hardly a sacrifice not to go back to Iran from Norway, but I guess it’s a revolutionary act.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.