Iran has denied as "baseless" U.S. charges that it is pursuing nuclear weapons, sponsoring terrorism and depriving its citizens of freedom.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Thursday that the accusations made in President Bush's State of the Union address show Mr. Bush is, in his words, "closing his eyes to the realities of the Islamic Republic with its deep-rooted freedom and democracy."
Referring to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Mr. Asefi said his country "26 years ago put an end to the dominant influence and presence of the United States in Iran."
In his speech Wednesday night, Mr. Bush said the United States stands with the Iranian people as they seek liberty. He also said Iran is the world's primary state sponsor of terror, and is pursuing nuclear weapons.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP.
