CNN journalist refused a visa

Reporters Without Borders today denounced as a "clear attack on press freedom" Iran's refusal to grant a visa to CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour (see picture), who is covering British foreign secretary Jack Straw's current Middle East tour. "Refusing a visa to a foreign journalist is nothing unusual for Iran, but this incident is obviously part of the present tension in US-Iran relations," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard. Calling on Iran to grant the visa, he noted that the head of the official news agency IRNA was summoned by legal officials on 30 September after he had put out a report of a public opinion poll showing 74.7 % Iranians wanted talks with the US to resume. The 22 September report appeared the day after the Guide of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had made an especially harsh attack on the United States. Iranian officials gave no reason for refusing Amanpour's visa application. During her last visit to the country, she did a report on Iranian young people which seems to have displeased the regime, which is in the habit of blocking the return of journalists who have done reports considered critical. CNN is seen by Iranians via satellite. Reporters Without Borders notes than 10 journalists are imprisoned in Iran, serving sentences of between three and 11 years.