news agency reported on Saturday. Iran Focus
First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi has notified all ministries and state organisations in a memorandum last week that certain foreign companies have been hosting Iranian officials and managers of state agencies on all-expenses-paid visits to their countries, the news agency reported.
The memorandum, according to the news agency, told the ministers, Such visits could create uncertainties and, therefore, all government agencies and ministries are required henceforth to seek ministerial approval for visits to foreign countries by their officials and members of staff.
Irans hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has summoned 40 ambassadors and senior diplomats to Tehran in a major purge of the countrys Foreign Service. The restriction on foreign trips by government officials is being seen as one more step along the increasing radicalization of the theocratic state.
