In a report to the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused Iran’s president of failing to fulfill his campaign promises to allow greater freedom of expression.
"The new administration has not made any significant improvement in the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and opinion, despite pledges made by the president during his campaign and after his swearing in," Ban said.
"Both offline and online (news) outlets continue to face restrictions including closure," he said.
In reply, Mohammad Hassan Asafari, a member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, strongly rejected the claims, stressing that Iran enjoys one of the most democratic systems in the world.
“Mr. Ban Ki-moon seems to have political and authoritarian views on the global issues,” Asafari added, noting that the UN chief attempts to appease the US and the Zionist regime of Israel by making such remarks.
“The (Iranian) administration should make a firm response to Ban Ki-moon or anyone who allows themselves to interfere in the country’s internal affairs,” the lawmaker pointed out.