Iranian extremists attack US tourists

The Iranian group Fadaeyat Islam claimed responsibility for launching an attack on a delegation of American tourists who were staying at the Hilton Hotel in Tehran.

In a phone call to ArabicNews.com, the group's spokesman said his group is responsible for the attack on US tourists, confirming that some of them were seriously injured.

He added that what his group undertook was just a warning and lesson for those "spies" and others, where those who were loyal to the revolution and adhere to its guide pursued the "spies" and found them in the Hilton Hotel last Saturday, after they searched for them in several hotels.

Iran News quoted Iran's JOMHOURI ISLAMI daily as saying, "The objectives of the visit by Americans include collecting political information, studying American cooperation in the economic field, including the oil sector and in the free trade zones, as well as advance purchase of Iranian oil. It is said that some CIA ranking officials are included in the delegation."

Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Mostafa Tajzade condemned the attack on the tourists. "Even if an organization extends visa facilities to someone by mistake, the life of the person who has been issued a visa should be protected. the ministry is responsible for this and therefore, we do our best to discharge this responsibility," Tajzade was quoted by the Iranian news agency, IRNA, as saying.