Araqchi: US spying on Iran not a new subject

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 11, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that continued US spying on Iran is not something new or strange.

Addressing reporters in his weekly press briefing, he said the US use various means such as social networks ( Facebook and Tweeters) to collect information on Iranian nationals inside the country or elsewhere in the region.

Such unethical acts which have angered people from all walks of life including US scientists and intellectuals run counter to the principles of democracy, he said.

Some social networks have been turned into tools for monitoring people's activities and gathering information for espionage purposes, he said.

On recent terrorist acts in holy cities in Iraq, he said the Iraqi government is responsible for the safety of Iranian pilgrims.

He expressed regret over the inhuman crimes and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The Iranian foreign ministry is in direct contact with Iraqi foreign ministry to ensure the security of Iranian pilgrims who visit holy shrines in Iraq, he said.

Referring to a televised negotiations between the two sides' foreign ministers, he said during the talks they agreed that the security officials of both countries should enforce new rules to maintain the security of Iranian pilgrims.

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