Ook de regering van Iran heeft recht op journalistieke wederhoor in de gigantische nieuwsstroom van verhalen over de verkiezingen in het Perzische land. Daarom hierbij de integrale reactie van de Iraanse ambassade in Nederland naar aanleiding van een bezoek van Maxime Verhagen, die vraagtekens zet bij de uitslag van de verkiezingen in Iran. Enkele opvallende passages in het persbericht:

Enkele opvallende passages in het persbericht:

* Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Maxime Verhagen maakte incorrecte en onvriendelijke opmerkingen over de verkiezingen in Iran.

* De Iraanse ambassade reageert in het persbericht fijntjes op het feit dat de verliezingsopkomst in Iran twee en een half keer hoger ligt dan tijdens de Europese verkiezingen in Europa.

* Volgens de ambassadeur zijn Nederlandse journalisten in Iran in de problemen gekomen door 'illegale daden'.

In the name of God

Press Release

The Acting Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Ghahramani met with the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Maxime Verhagen on June 16, 2009. This meeting in which the Political Director-General of the Dutch Foreign Ministry was also present was organized at the behest of the Dutch Foreign Minister. In this meeting the Iranian Acting Ambassador strongly objected to the incorrect and unfriendly remarks made by the Dutch Foreign Minister regarding the presidential election that was recently held in Iran.

Mr. Ghahramani stated that the Dutch Foreign Ministry was expected to highly commend the massive participation of Iranian people in this election which is estimated to stand at 83 percent, which in effect it is two and a half times upwards of the participation of the Dutch people in the European parliamentary elections held on June 4, 2009, which is in and of itself indicative of the unflinching support of Iranians for the Islamic Revolution.

The Iranian Acting Ambassador went on to say that Iran is governed by the rule of law and that any objection to or complaint against any process can be dealt with through the legal channels already stipulated in the Constitution. Hence any objection related to presidential election already held can be dealt with within the same legal parameters.

Mr. Ghahramani also noted that fortunately within the same legal framework already in place in the Islamic Republic of Iran any complaint about election irregularities can be looked into and that some of the presidential candidates are already taking good advantage of the same legal framework and are also to meet with the Council of Guardians to this effect. The Islamic Republic of Iran expects different countries to uphold such a legal and peaceful framework and refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of other countries.

The Acting Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to The Hague also alluded to the provocative and illegal acts of the Dutch journalists in Iran

Which confronted them with some difficulty.

The Foreign Minister of the Netherlands also while announcing the position of the Dutch government regarding the developments related to the Iranian Presidential election stated that the international community and 5+1 countries favor dialog with Iran and we hope that the Iranian government opts for joining this dialog.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in The Hague