Tehran To Tighten Rules On Foreign Journalists Ahead Of Election

Supporters hold portraits of presidential candidate and lead nuclear negotiator Said Jalili during a campaign rally in Tehran on May 24.

Iranian Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini is seeking to tighten supervision rules on visiting foreign journalists ahead of the country’s June 14 presidential election.

The semiofficial Mehr news agency on May 29 quoted Hosseini as saying tighter measures are being sought after an Israeli journalist reported from Tehran about the 2009 presidential election for a European news organization.

Postelection turmoil in 2009 led the government to restrict access for foreign journalists and many left the country ahead of schedule.

Hosseini says 200 foreign journalists have applied to cover next month’s presidential election.

The ministry has a final say on issuing their credentials.

About 120 foreign media organizations maintain offices in Iran.

Based on reporting by AP and Mehr