Illegal imprisonment of Iranian woman showed U.S. hostility: Iranian FM spokesman

TEHRAN,Aug.14(MNA) – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Sunday that the United States’ decision to illegally imprison Iranian woman Shahrzad Mir-Qolikhan for five years illustrated Washington’s hostility toward the Islamic Republic. Several years ago, Mir-Qolikhan and her former husband were arrested by the Austrian police on charges of purchasing dual-use equipment. She was released from prison after completing her sentence and returned to Iran. Mir-Qolikhan told Press TV via telephone from inside prison on November 1, 2010 that she was duped into visiting the United States in 2007 by U.S. officials, who then tried to “make her a spy” and use her to find the whereabouts of her ex-husband. She was then sentenced to five years in prison. She was released from prison a few days ago and arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on August 7. Iran had sought the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman in the case. Mir-Qolikhan arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday. Mehmanparast stated that Mir-Qolikhan’s incarceration based on unfounded charges was in violation of legal rules, adding that the Iranian Foreign Ministry repeatedly protested about the conditions that she had been experiencing and therefore holds the U.S. government responsible for the suffering she has endured and reserves the right to take due action. Mehmanparast expressed regret over the fact that the U.S. government ignored Iran’s repeated requests for Mir-Qolikhan’s immediate release on humanitarian grounds and said that it illustrated the hostile approach that the United States has adopted toward the Iranian people. He also said that Mir-Qolikhan’s release at the end of her prison sentence shows the United States’ disrespect for shared humanitarian values. In addition, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman thanked the Omani government and officials of certain friendly countries for their efforts in regard to the case and hailed Mir-Qolikhan’s endurance as well. Mehmanparast added that the Foreign Ministry will continue its efforts to obtain the release of other Iranian nationals imprisoned in the United States.