Expulsion row: Iran says studying case

Iran embassy in New Delhi said the foreign ministries of the two countries "are studying the case" of students' expulsion and they are in touch with each other in the matter.

Iran embassy in New Delhi said the foreign ministries of the two countries "are studying the case" of students' expulsion and they are in touch with each other in the matter.

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Responding to reports in HT that four Indian students were sent back from Iran in an apparent retaliation of India sending many of their students back, Iran embassy chief of press Hassan Rahimi Majd said, "In view of the presence of a large number of the Iranian students in India and the Indian students in Iran, such happenings sometimes do take place. The foreign ministries of the two countries are studying this case and are in contact with each other".

"In reference to the report titled "India, Iran in student expulsion war" (HT, February 2, 2012), it should be stated that the title chosen for the report is exaggerated and gives its readers a completely wrong picture of the situation," he said.

The report also cited sources in Indian security agencies saying "Iran has tried to influence Muslims in India as part of a broader theological struggle with Saudi Arabia and, at least once, supported street protests in India over foreign policy."

But Iran embassy differed, "regarding some claims made in your report it should be stated that Iran is not engaged in any theological struggle with any country and it does not interfere in the domestic or foreign policies of other countries".