TEHERAN, Oct 11 (DPA) Teheran reiterated today that it will not allow any Afghan refugees into the country, the official news agency IRNA reported.
Irans borders are closed and neither Afghans nor citizens from any other states are allowed to cross the Iran-Afghanistan border, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-reza Assefi told IRNA.
Only United Nations relief workers or personnel of other relief entities are allowed to pass the Iran-Afghanistan border, the spokesman said.
A large number of foreign reporters are currently either in Teheran or Mashad, the capital of the northeastern border province Khorassan, awaiting official permission to go to the border.
IRNA meanwhile reported that war refugees had arrived at the border with Iran, but state-run television that there were none.
A red crescent official told reporters yesterday that Iran will also cooperate with American relief organizations and confirmed cooperation with the American-Canadian Mennonite Central Committee.
Several United Nations relief consignments with basic goods have arrived at the border lines, mainly at the Doqarun checkpoint in the Khorassan province, and are being moved into Afghanistan.