Iran criticizes its diplomats' defections

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday criticized two Iranian diplomats who defected this month in Europe, saying they chose to stay abroad for "personal interests."

The two diplomats have themselves said their decisions were politically motivated and they left their positions because of the government's crackdown on citizens protesting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 2009 re-election.

The remarks by foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast were Iran's first official confirmation of the defections, which were seen as a new sign of fissures within Iran's establishment.

Farzad Farhangian said he had quit his job as press attache at the Iranian Embassy in Brussels and that he would ask Norway for political asylum. Hossein Alizadeh, the No. 2 man at Iran's mission in Helsinki, said he would seek political asylum in Finland.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iwlfW_Hoct2PDoeDnzaZfTmWBQUgD9IC85RG1

[MissHoneychurch]

1. Good for them

but I am sure their families in Iran will have to live with the reprisals.

[L.Torsalo]

2. I find it interesting

that in the story, the words "personal interests" appear in quotations while the words ...politically motivated... do not. It gives a subtle impression that the "personal interests" are a pretense. The AP is telling us here that the men left for politically motivated reasons. I object to this story because the meme about the Iranian election fraud has been discredited as a blogger inspired (and bogus) storyline.

[UnseenUndergrad]

3. pardon?

Ahmadinejad getting exactly 63% of the votes in every district, even Mousavi's home region? If that's not election fraud then I'm a catfish.

[crim son]

4. It would be helpful if you could provide a link

where you got that information. On DU, surprising claims must be verified if you don't want to be dismissed as one of the uninformed. And, welcome to DU! Enjoy your stay.