FM spokesman rejects Clinton's remarks on virtual embassy

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast rejected on Monday the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's announcement that the US was willing to set up a virtual embassy for Iranians. He made the remarks during a visit to the IRNA pavilion at the 18th International Press and News Agencies Fair in Tehran. It seems such unprofessional remarks clearly depict contraction between deeds and words of US officials resulting from the recent waves of Islamic awakening in the region, he said. Embassies are set up to establish official relations and contacts between governments and setting up a virtual embassy is meaningless unless they facilitate consular formalities, Mehmanparast said. American officials seek to impress Iran's public opinion as they believe their politicians are not popular with the Iranian people, he said. Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said that a 'virtual embassy in Tehran' will be online by the end of the year, helping Iranians wishing to travel or study in the United States to make use of the new opportunity.