The continued detention of two Iranian journalists – arrested by US forces in Iraq while filming at a checkpoint on 1 July – has stirred mounting concern and anger in Iran. The Iranian Government has sent an official protest to Washington through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which handles US interests. Diplomatic relations between the US and Iran were broken after the Islamic revolution in 1979. Iranian officials say they have also stopped issuing visas to American and British journalists wanting to visit Iran. British forces are part of the US-led coalition in Iraq. The two detained Iranians, director Saeed Abu Taleb and cameraman Soheil Karimi, were filming for the Iranian state television’s second channel when they were arrested at Diwanieh in south-central Iraq. Coalition officials say they are being held on suspicion of spying. Until this week, the two men’s families had virtually no news of them. After a month of silence, they received forms from the International Committee of the Red Cross with the rubber-stamped legend “Safe and Well” – but no further details. Full Story
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