MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's Foreign Ministry accused European countries and the U.S. of meddling in the country's domestic affairs after Tehran was hit by riots following presidential elections, Iran's Press TV reported on Monday.
Tehran has been swept by mass demonstrations over alleged ballot fraud in the landslide reelection of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on June 12. Official results gave the incumbent 63% of the vote, with reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi receiving 34%.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossan Qashqawi said in a weekly press conference that European countries and the United States were behind the riots and protests in Tehran adding, "France has even gone as far as calling for the annulment of the election outcome. What right do they have to make such inappropriate and irresponsible remarks?"
At least 457 people were arrested during rioting in Iran's capital, with 13 people reported killed on Saturday as protests continued against the country's disputed presidential elections. Some hospital sources put the death toll at 19 with the Fars news agency stating that around 40 police officers had been injured in the riots.
Qashqawi criticized foreign media for dramatizing the developments in Iran, saying their efforts to launch a cyber war against the government is "totally out of line."
"They have resorted to hacking Iranian news sites as a means to widen the gap between the government and the people," he said on Press TV, as scenes of everyday traffic were shown as evidence that things were getting back to normal.
Qashqawi said the Tehran government is planning to respond to the stepped-up "foreign interference" in due time.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Europe and the U.S. against meddling in Iran's domestic issues.
Opposition leader Mousavi called on his supporters to continue "showing restraint," saying in a statement on his website on Sunday that the mass arrests "will create a rift between society and the country's armed forces."
