Statement by the High Representative, Catherine Ashton,

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made the following statement today: "Following my last statement of 4 March, and contacts between the EU and Iranian authorities in Tehran, there have been a series of requests to the Ambassadors of Iran in EU capitals for explanations regarding the continued restrictions on the freedom of movement and communications applied to prominent political leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi. The explanations offered emphasise only that they are being detained for their own protection. This justification remains unconvincing, and does not explain why they have not been allowed to communicate normally. The immediate and unconditional release of these two men would dispel the impression that the continued restrictions under which they are held constitute a means of deliberate suppression of political opposition in Iran.” Link: http://www.consilium.europa.eu