U.S. Secretary of State ’s remarks about Iran not credible: Iranian official

TEHRAN, Oct. 29 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said on Thursday the remarks that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has recently made about Tehran are not credible. According to Reuters, Clinton, in interviews with the Persian language services of the BBC and Voice of America on Wednesday, said that the United States plans to open a “virtual embassy” for Iran that will give Iranians online information about visas and student exchange programs despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. Clinton said that the “virtual embassy” web site would be open by the end of the year. She also acknowledged economic sanctions sometimes caused difficulties for average Iranians, but said they were the best tool to pressure Iran’s leaders. Clinton said the door remained opened to talks with Tehran on its nuclear program. In addition, Clinton stated she was aware that many people around the world were skeptical about U.S. charges this month that Iran was tied to a plot to kill the Saudi ambassador, but said she believed Washington had a strong case. Mehmanparast refuted the allegations that Clinton had made against Iran and said that she made such remarks because she has a poor understanding of Iran. Ms. Clinton has always been ignorant about issues relating to Iran, Mehmanparast said, adding, “We advise her and other U.S. government officials to refrain from taking repressive and dictatorial measures in the U.S. and abandon their interventionist and occupation policies toward other countries instead of leveling accusations at others.” He added, “It would be better if U.S. officials fulfill the demands of its people, particularly the youth, which have been manifested in the Wall Street protest movement” and agree to the demands of the people in the countries which have been experiencing popular uprisings and Islamic awakening who have called on the U.S. to withdraw its support of dictators, end its military presence in other countries, and stop interfering in the internal affairs of other states. On the U.S. plan to open a virtual embassy for Iran, Mehmanparast said, “It seems that the U.S. government is in a great quandary about its international relations, particularly with a great and independent country like the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stated that Tehran has always shown its commitment to international conventions but Washington has flouted them on a number of occasions.