Ex-German Lawmaker Rips Western Anti-Iran Propaganda

Berlin, July 4, IRNA -- A former senior legislator of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic party (CDU) on Tuesday lashed out at western anti-Iranian propaganda for portraying the Islamic Republic as an extremist country. Writing for the Berlin-based daily Berliner Zeitung, Juergen Todenhoefer urged all western politicians to embark on a trip to Iran to see the way the country really is. The prominent German politician-turned-peace activist who recently visited Iran, said the 'only extremism' he faced in that country was 'extreme cordiality and readiness to help others.' Todenhoefer highlighted especially Iran's religious freedom as one of the positive aspects of the country. He stressed the Iranian nuclear issue was merely 'an excuse to isolate Iran and to bring it to its knees' amid US attempts to secure its hegemony in the oil-rich Persian Gulf region. Todenhoefer reiterated the Iranian nuclear deadlock could only be resolved through negotiations 'on the highest governmental level.' He called on the US to conduct direct talks with Iran geared at settling their 30-year-old differences./end