By Country / Iran
Iran Tells U.S. Not To Meddle In Scholar's Case
May 18, 2007
Haleh Esfandiari (file photo) (usip.com)
case of a U.S.-Iranian scholar jailed in Tehran on allegations of
acting against Iran's national security.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said the jailing of Haleh Esfandiari is an Iranian internal affair.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for Esfandiari's immediate release. But Iran does not recognize Esfandiari's dual nationality, and says she will be treated as an Iranian citizen.
Meanwhile, Iran says U.S. officials have indicated that five Iranians detained in northern Iraq by U.S. forces could be released by June 21. Foreign Minister Mottaki said the information from U.S. officials was communicated to Tehran by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
Washington says the five men, detained in January, are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and were backing militants in Iraq. Iran insists they are diplomats.
(AFP, Reuters)