Iran Mocks Possible Return of Envoys
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NICOSIA, Cyprus — Iran’s leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, said Wednesday that European envoys are returning to Iran disgraced by their governments’ actions over the Salman Rushdie affair, Tehran Radio reported.
The state-run radio, monitored in Nicosia, quoted Khomeini as saying the European Community envoys are “returning humiliated, disgraced and abject, regretting what they did.”
The 12-member community recalled its senior diplomats from Tehran a month ago to protest Khomeini’s call for Muslims to murder Rushdie, the author of the controversial novel, “The Satanic Verses.” The 12 nations decided Monday that each member could decide whether to return its envoy to the Iranian capital.
Also Wednesday, Britain said it will deport nine more Iranians unless they leave voluntarily by Monday.
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