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Tehran- April 22 - Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Monday said that the recent moves by the US senate to impose visa restrictions for nationals of certain countries including Iran as 'a move backward'.
The US senate, still reeling from the September 11 attacks, moved late Thursday to bar nationals from countries officially declared as 'sponsors of terrorism', and tighten control over foreign students in the United States.
The enhanced border security and visa entry reform act, passed unanimously (97-0) in the senate, prohibits admission of people from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan and north Korea unless they are going to the United States as immigrants.
"Such an act is contrary to the spirit and interests of nations for expanding mutual scientific and cultural ties," he said adding that it also exposes the double standard policy of the US authorities towards the Iranian nation.
Resorting to such an act, which is limiting relations between nations, by those claiming to have the desire for democracy and freedom is not expected, he told domestic and foreign journalists. In order to eradicate terrorism, the US officials should take into account the roots of the problem and try to change their past policies, Asefi noted.
Setting forth such trivial issues is only aimed at misleading the US and the world public opinion from the real nature of the US deceitful and unreal policies, he reiterated. Following the September 11 attacks, Washington, despite good will shown by th e Islamic Republic of Iran for cooperating in anti-terrorism campaign, not only did not end its hostile policies against Iran, but it also increased its hostilities towards the country day by day, Asefi said adding that such an attitude will undoubtedly increase the mistrust of the Iranian nation against US officials.
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