Tehran, March 4, IRNA - US refusal to issue visa to Iranian delegation scheduled to attend the 51st conference of the UN Commission on Status of Women in New York was an affront to Iranian women, chairperson of the Center for the Women and Family Affairs Zohreh Tayebzadeh Nouri said on Sunday.

She told reporters that the visa refusal of the US Administration indicated that the White House officials are afraid of Iranian women delivering speeches at the conference.

She said that the US officials are fearful of progressive thought of Iranian women and their refusal to grant visa betrays such a fear.

She said that a group of nine women including three reporters and three researchers and three students had applied for visa with the US consulate in Switzerland, but, their applications were turned down.

Mrs. Touba Kermani who led Iranian delegation to Switzerland to get US visa said that the US violated its commitments to host the United Nations headquarters and despite its undertakings to issue visa to citizens of the member states, it created nuisance for the member states participation in the UN conferences.

... Payvand News - 3/4/07 ... --