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FM spokeswoman slams local media for distorting Iranian minister’s words

Iran Materials 8 October 2013 17:54 (UTC +04:00)
Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham has criticized Iranian media for publishing unreal information regarding the meeting of the FM Mohammad Javad Zarif

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 8 /Trend N. Umid/

Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham has criticized Iranian media for publishing unreal information regarding the meeting of the FM Mohammad Javad Zarif and members of the Iranian parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Commission, IRNA news agency reported.

Some Iranian media outlets, in particular, the radical Keyhan newspaper, claimed that Zarif has confessed that his meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as well as President Hassan Rouhani's phone talk with his counterpart Barack Obama were subject to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's criticism.

On October 5, Khamanei said that he supports the developments which occurred during Rouhani's New York visit, adding that "some issues were not very suitable."

Afkham announced that the published information are not in line with FM's statements.

The Iranian and U.S. FMs met in New York after 34 years and the two countries' presidents talked for the first time via telephone later in September.

The U.S. President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's phone talk is the highest-level contact between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and a sign that both sides are serious about reaching a pact on Iran's nuclear program.

It should be recalled that, some powers in Iran are against Rouhani's peaceful approach.

The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari called Rouhani's phone conversation with Obama, a tactical mistake. Some extremist groups protested Rouhani after his arrival to Tehran.

As President, Rouhani is the head of the government but has limited powers.

The Supreme Leader is the ultimate authority in Iran with final say on domestic and foreign policy, though Rouhani says he has been given full authority to negotiate on the country's nuclear issue.

Khamenei has stated that he trusts the diplomats of Rouhani's administration.

The United States and its allies have imposed tough economic sanctions on Iran over suspicions Tehran intends to develop a nuclear capability. Iran says the program is purely peaceful.

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