Tehran Governor and Head of Tehran Province Security Council expressed sorrow over Monday invasion against Iran Cultural and Press Institute affiliated with IRNA news agency and said those who attacked Iran newspaper would be dealt with seriously.
According to IRNA, Tehran Governor Morteza Tamaddon who was visiting the building of Iran newspaper after the invasion of the daily by a group that tried to arrest President's Media Advisor and IRNA Managing Director Ali-Akbar Javanfekr, which led to destroying of parts of the daily's building, insulting the reporters, and arresting a large number of the newspaper's active journalists, Tamaddon sincerely promised that violators against Iran newspaper would be dealt with seriously and in accordance with laws.
"The events in Iran newspaper today have been catastrophic and cannot be justified in any way, while there has been no reason for launching such an attack against the entire cultural center and all its employees so annoying and horrifying them", Tamaddon told IRNA.
Tamaddon added that all the documents and proofs on the Monday events at Iran newspaper building must be collected and delivered to the country's judiciary officials.
"We know that this case needs clear and decisive judgment", Tehran Governor added.
"The reason why I personally attended the scene of this unfortunate event is the sensitivity of the matter, and because I wished to receive precise and first hand information about the matter, and the Command Headquarters of Tehran Disciplinary Force, too, is surveying the issue parallel with us", he said.
Tehran Governor said that those who have dealt with the reporters and staff of Iran newspaper unjustly, annoyed and harmed them must be held accountable for their deeds.
"I have talked to the Deputy Prosecutor General and the Commander of the Disciplinary Forces about the arrested individuals, and our argument was that a number of the arrested people are unaware about the reason for their arrest", Tamaddon added.
At the end Tamaddon promised that he would ensure that all arrested people would be freed at the first opportunity and return to their peaceful work atmosphere.
Iranian security forces broke into the office of Iran newspaper and tried to arrest Javanfekr on Monday morning. But his supporters, the staff of Iran newspaper and other journalists prevented this. The journalists and security forces clashed, the Iranian news website "Tabnak" reported.
According to the report, Javanfekr's supporters didn't allow to take him out of the office.
"Javanfekr's supporters stated that he should be called and arrested by the Court," the report said.
Despite the clash, the security forces were finally able to arrest Javanfekr.
Ali-Akbar Javanfekr had been found guilty of having published an article and pictures in the IRNA-affiliated magazine Khatoun which were indecent and contrary to Islamic norms.
IRNA reported that by order of the judiciary security forces arrested 41 reporters, including the paper's chief editor Mosayeb Naeimi.
During the raid one reporter was even injured, IRNA said.
Naeimi and 30 of the arrested reporters have in the meantime been released but ten of them remained in jail.
IRNA is the country's official news agency and its head is appointed by the culture minister after approval of the president.