Iran slams US, France due to intervention

Tehran has criticized the United States and France for their comments about the vetting of would-be candidates in the country's presidential election. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday that Tehran was "highly sensitive" about comments targeting its internal affairs. His spokesman Abbas Araqchi said: "Elections in Iran are free and transparent. They are held based on the country's laws and regulations." Iran's electoral watchdog disqualified Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad's former chief of staff and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani from running in the June 14 presidential vote. Iran will hold the 11th presidential election on June 14, 2013. The voters will select the successor of the current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not able to participate in the elections for the third term according to the country's constitutional laws.