United States Plans Virtual Embassy

for Iran
27 october 2011
The United States is planning to open an embassy for Iran for the first time since 1980
but only on the Internet
Secretary of State !illary "linton told the ##" that the $%irtual embassy& 'ould open
by the end of 2011 and gi%e Iranians information about %isas and student e(change
programs
$)e 'ant to create better relations first and foremost 'ith the Iranian people*&
"linton told the ##"+s ,ersian-language outlet
The US se%ered formal diplomatic ties 'ith Iran shortly after the Iran hostage crisis*
in 'hich .2 /merican hostages 'ere held for 000 days* ending in 1981 There has not
been an /merican embassy in Tehran since 1i2e'ise* there is no Iranian embassy in
)ashington* 3" 4ach go%ernment bases their business in the other+s capital in the
embassy of a third-party country
"linton told ,ersian-language media* according to 5euters* that she hoped to ma2e
connections 'ith the Iranian people despite tensions 'ith their go%ernment 6n her
list of those tensions 'ere the Iranian nuclear 'eapons program* aggressi%e beha%ior
to'ard neighbors in the region and a case in 'hich the US has accused the Iranian
go%ernment of attempting to murder the Saudi ambassador to the US
She also ac2no'ledged that the US 'as helping Iranians circum%ent go%ernment
bloc2s and restrictions on the Internet and other digital communication 'hich
could be fortunate should Iran attempt to bloc2 the ne' $embassy&
US virtual embassy for Iran 'will fail'
2011-10-27 20728
Tehran - US plans to launch a 9%irtual embassy9 for Iran 'ill fail* the spea2er of Iran:s
parliament said on Thursday* according to the 'ebsite of the state broadcaster I5I#
9If the /mericans belie%e they can do something in Iran 'ith a %irtual ;embassy<* they
are mista2en These declarations shouldn:t be ta2en seriously because they:re a sign of
political shortcomings9 on the part of the United States* /li 1ari=ani 'as >uoted as
saying
The remar2 'as a dismissal of an announcement made on )ednesday by US
Secretary of State !illary "linton in an inter%ie' to ##" ?arsi
"linton said that* in the ne(t t'o months* the United States 'ould open a 9%irtual
embassy97 an online site that 'ould respond to >uestions about US %isa and study
options* and that 'ould address the Iranian population directly
9)e+re trying to reach out to the Iranian people* and 'e+%e tried to reach out to the
go%ernment* =ust not %ery successfully*9 "linton said
The United States and Iran ha%e not had diplomatic relations since 1979* 'hen a
group of Islamic students too2 /merican diplomats hostage in the US embassy in
Tehran follo'ing Iran:s re%olution
Currently, Iranians wanting to travel to the United States have to as for visas in
the United !rab Emirates or in "urey#
Iran bloc2s internet access to 'ebsites of the US go%ernment 'ebsites and to media*
including ##" ?arsi broadcasts
1ari=ani also lashed out at comments by "linton encouraging the Iranian people to
appeal for international support if they again made protests similar to ones in 2009
that follo'ed the disputed re-election of ,resident @ahmoud /hmadine=ad
9If she is hoping for a protest mo%ement inside Iran* she has to 2no' that the protest
mo%ements in the region ;the /rab spring<* are the result of the Islamic re%olution in
Iran This sort of comment only reinforces the national unity of Iranians*9 1ari=ani
said