Iran has dismissed claims made by the French Foreign Ministry that Tehran is jamming the signals of European satellite TV channels.


Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected the claims as “unfounded” on Wednesday, saying that some Western governments are exemplary in this regard with their behavior and double standards.

The Iranian diplomat said the French remarks come at a time when certain European satellites have dropped Iranian channels with the purpose of depriving public opinion of access to realties.

He described the banning of the Iranian channels as a blatant example of the violation of human rights and the right to the free exchange of information.

Paris has filed an official complaint at the International Union of Communications against Tehran and says it is discussing the imposition of more Iran sanctions with its European partners over this matter.

Mehmanparast advised Western governments to be answerable to public opinion about their violation of international law and to change their behavior and policies in line with the human rights principles they claim to advocate.

In a flagrant violation of freedom of speech, Eutelsat SA ordered media services company, Arqiva, on October 15 to stop the broadcast of several Iranian satellite channels, including Press TV.

The company’s only press release stated that the decision was based on reinforced European Union Council sanctions and a confirmation by France’s broadcasting authority, but Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, told Press TV that the sanctions contain no such orders.

Eutelsat has refused any interview requests from Press TV to comment on its decision to disconnect all Iranian media from its satellite television services after Kocijancic's remarks.
source: PressTV - Iran rejects French channel jamming allegations

Reply With Quote