Iran Condemns U.S. For Refusing Visas For MPs

3 September 2005 -- Iran today condemned the United States for refusing to issue visas to an Iranian parliamentary delegation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamih Reza Asefi said parliaments were symbols for promotion of democracy and slammed Washington for breaching international commitments.

Iranian MPs were scheduled to attend the annual UN General Assembly session in New York on 6 September.

The United States, however, has indicated that Iran's new President Mahmud Ahmadinejad will receive a U.S. visa to attend the session later this month.

(AP/dpa)