Iran bans contact with groups involved in soft war

Iran has banned Iranian citizens from cooperating with 60 international institutions and a number of media outlets due to their involvement in the post-election unrest.

Iran’s deputy intelligence minister for foreign affairs announced on Monday that 60 European and US foundations and institutions played a role in inciting post-election violence in the Islamic Republic.

Cooperating and signing contracts with these foundations and institutions, which are conducting soft warfare against Iran, is illegal, and receiving facilities from them is also prohibited, he said.

He urged Iranian citizens to avoid any unusual relations with these organizations and with foreign embassies and nationals.

He also stated that political parties are prohibited from receiving financial assistance from foreign countries.

He went on to say that institutions and media outlets like BBC and VOA are trying to help efforts to overthrow of the Islamic Republic.

The Soros Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the East European Democratic Centre (EEDC), Wilton Park, the Smith Richardson Foundation, and the United States’ National Defense University are some of the institutions and foundations on the Intelligence Ministry list of banned organizations.

Earlier on Monday, Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi said that “several foreign nationals” were arrested during the unrest on December 27, which was Ashura day, which is the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his 72 companions.

Some of the detainees are foreign nationals who were attempting to conduct propaganda and psychological warfare campaigns against Iran, Moslehi told reporters on Monday, IRIB News reported.

“They had entered Iran only two days before Ashura. Their cameras and equipment have been confiscated,” he added.

The intelligence minister did not say how many foreigners were arrested or mention the nationalities of the detainees.

On Sunday, December 27, 2009, protesters took to the streets during the Ashura mourning ceremonies and chanted anti-government slogans. They also damaged public property and clashed with security forces. Seven people were killed in the unrest.