MP Blames Zionists for Canceled Visit to Tehran by European Delegation

Chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said that the European Parliaments delegation had made the request for a tour of Iran long ago and Zionist elements had repeatedly vowed to block the visit.

The delegation was due to visit Iran on Sunday, but later cancelled the planned visit due to the Zionists' pressures, he said.

"Some participating parties in the European Parliament's delegation that are more easily pressed surrendered to the Zionists' pressure, and finally, the delegation cancelled the visit," he stated.

"When a parliament cannot maintain its independence, it naturally lacks the potential for negotiation and mutual understanding," Boroujerdi observed.

Based on a proposal by the European Parliament, the EU lawmakers planned to travel to Tehran (for a visit) from October 27 to November 2.

The visit angered Israel which is profoundly worried about the further expansion of ties between Iran and the European countries.

Tel Aviv strove hard to discourage the members of the EU parliament from visiting Tehran.

The Israeli media said that Tel Aviv was working to have the visit canceled.

Israel tried unsuccessfully earlier this summer to discourage nations from participating in a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran, and Netanyahu personally implored UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon not to attend, but was rebuffed.

Israel and its close ally the United States accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, while they have never presented any corroborative document to substantiate their allegations. Both Washington and Tel Aviv possess advanced weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear warheads.

Iran vehemently denies the charges, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.

After the UN Security Council ratified a sanctions resolution against Iran on June 9, 2010, the United States and the European Union imposed further unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program, mostly targeting the country's energy and banking sectors.
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