EU's Ashton criticized for meeting Iran activists

A senior Iranian military official has criticized the European Union's foreign policy chief for meeting women activists during her visit to Iran.
     
The semi-official Fars news agency on Monday quoted Gen. Masoud Jazayeri, the armed forces' deputy chief of staff, as saying Catherine Ashton's meeting with activists convicted over 2009 post-election unrest was "an interference" in Iran's internal affairs.
     
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Marzieh Afkham, says Iran sent a protest note to the Austrian Embassy for arranging the meeting between Ashton and the activists, including Narges Mohammadi.
     
Ashton has been in the country since Saturday on a landmark, first visit. She is talking with senior government officials about Tehran's nuclear program after Iran and the six world powers reached an interim deal last year.
     
Negotiations for a final deal are ongoing.

         
AP