Intelligence minister elaborates on post-election incidents

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting in Tehran he said the suicide bombing on Saturday at the shrine of Imam Khomeini was one in a series of bombings which were planned to cause unrest in the country.

In the run up to June 12 presidential election, certain groups, “mostly affiliated to Israel”, sought to carry out bombings in various parts of Iran but the terror agents were arrested by the country’s security forces, he added.

The Intelligence minister also said a number of people who had long been trying to promote insecurity in the southern cities of Iran including Ahvaz were arrested.

“Israel and certain Western powers, especially the U.S., are behind most of these incidents in Iran,” he added.

He also said "Britain was one of the countries which aggravated the situation by strong propaganda and some undiplomatic measures."

The recent provocative programs broadcast by BBC’s Persian service were among Britain’s attempts to foment protests in Iran, he pointed out.

Some people with British passports "had a role in the riots" he added.

Soon after Tehran ordered two British diplomats to leave the country on Monday, the British prime minister on Tuesday announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats. 

Mohseni Ejei denied reports about the arrest of two foreign reporters in Tehran, saying two foreign nationals who were acting under the guise of reporters and were covertly obtaining sensitive information have been arrested.  

He also differentiated between people who have been tricked to take part in riots and anti-revolutionary rioters who engage in damaging public property.

Many of those who were arrested during the past few days were soon freed, he added.

Mohseni Ejei also blamed the casualties in the post-election chaos on certain presidential candidates who invite their supporters to take to the streets.  

SL/PA

END

MNA