Rafsanjani sends Paris a warning
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.PARIS - The President of Iran, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has told France it should stop supporting the Algerian government in its fight against Islamic fundamentalism, saying its backing resembled US support for the Shah before the 1979 Islamic revolution, writes Julian Nundy.
His words are likely to strike a chord in view of French fears that Iran could use an Algerian Islamic guerrilla network to launch a terrorist campaign. In an interview with Le Figaro, a conservative newspaper, published yesterday, President Rafsanjani said he had a message for the French government: 'You must stop supporting the Algerian government. Your country is doing what the US did for the Shah's government. You know the result: today, the US is discredited. The main victims, in this case, are freedom and democracy.'
The President said Iran condemned the violence but it stemmed from the decision to abandon the 1992 elections, which the Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win. 'Why do you support a government which annulled elections on the pretext that they would give its Islamic opponents a majority? Everything started then,' he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments