Tehran to take legal action against US for funding Iran opposition

TEHRAN - Iran said Monday it plans to take legal action against the United States government for funding the Islamic republic's opposition forces.
"The American government has been allocating funds for interference in Iran's domestic affairs for years," government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh told reporters.
"Our country and the regime are stable enough not to be disturbed by such measures. However, such acts are against international norms and law. The foreign ministry will take necessary legal action" against Washington, he said.
Ramezanzadeh did not specify what sort of action.
According to the American press, three million dollars are to be allocated to "educational institutions, humanitarian groups, non-governmental organizations and individuals inside Iran to support the advancement of democracy and human rights".
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Sunday described the US plan as "a clear violation of the Algiers accords", which ended a hostage crisis at the American embassy in Tehran in 1980-1981.
The United States had agreed "not to intervene directly or indirectly, politically or militarily, in Iran's internal affairs".

04/11/2005 14:23 GMT