US opens ‘virtual embassy’ to enter Iran
‘A way for Americans and Iranians to communicate
openly’:
US: The United States opened a virtual online embassy Tuesday to
reach out to Iranians despite the absence of official ties, vowing to
break through the Islamic regime's “electronic curtain.” Iranian
authorities have already voiced anger over the virtual embassy, accusing
the United States of seeking to interfere in the country after Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton announced plans for the project in October.
The virtual embassy, accessible at http://iran.usembassy.gov, offers
US policy statements in English and Farsi, information on US visas, news
from US-funded Voice of America and links to share views via social
media. In a welcome message on the website, Clinton voiced hope that the
platform would provide a way for Americans and Iranians to communicate
“openly and without fear.” “Because the United States and Iran do not
have diplomatic relations, we have missed some important opportunities
for dialogue with you, the citizens of Iran,” she said in a video
message.
“But today, we can use new technologies to bridge that gap and
promote greater understanding between our two countries, and the peoples
of each country, which is why we established this virtual embassy,” she
said.
US officials invested in the website in hopes that it could withstand
a cyber-attack, or at least be quickly put back online if it is taken
down.
State Department number three Wendy Sherman, introducing the website
at a Washington news conference, said that the United States was seeking
dialogue with ordinary Iranians despite “very strong differences” with
the government.
“The regime has tried to impose an electronic curtain by disrupting
cell phones, the Internet and social media,” said Sherman, the under
secretary of state for political affairs.
“This is one more effort to try and get around that curtain and get
information directly to the Iranian people,” she said. The virtual
embassy will allow Iranians to start applications for visas to the
United States. But Iranians will still need to go overseas, typically to
Turkey or the United Arab Emirates, to obtain visas.
Sherman voiced hope that more Iranians would study in the United
States.
The number of Iranian students in the United States rose 19 percent
in 2010-11 from the previous academic year, according to the Institute
for International Education.
The United States and Iran have not had diplomatic relations since
the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution, when protesters ousted the
pro-Western shah and later seized the US embassy in Tehran. AFP
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