Iran advises UK not to interfere in its internal affairs

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast on Friday advised British Foreign Secretary William Hague to not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. In remarks on February 13, Hague called for the immediate release of Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, the opposition leaders who were placed under house arrest after they issued statements calling for protest rallies on February 14, 2011. Mehmanparast said, “I advise Mr. William Hague to not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and remind him that it would be better if his government take measures to restore the rights of citizens and demonstrators who were beaten by the police in Tottenham, in northern London,” in mid-summer instead of meddling in other countries’ internal affairs. He also advised the British government to refrain from using violence against anti-capitalist protestors and recognize their right to stage protest demonstrations.