Iran on January 16 took "punitive measure" against the CNN by invalidating press cards of CNN reporters in Tehran. Foreign Press Department of Ministry of Culture and the Islamic Guidance said that it will not extend permit to reporters of CNN for violating "professional ethics".
According to Irna, the Foreign Press department said in a statement that press cards of CNN reporters are being invalid and CNN reporters will not longer be granted press cards. "Any revision in the decision depends on performance of CNN in future," the statement said. However, the ban lasted less than 24 hours. On January 17, CNN was allowed to resume its activities. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a letter sent to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, asked that the ban on the TV channel be lifted.
The ban was imposed in reaction to misquoting Ahmadinejad in his press conference in Tehran on Saturday. Ahmadinejad said "Iranian nation enjoy great civilization and longstanding culture and it does not need nuclear weapons."
On her part, CNN reporter Christian Amanpour who is of Iranian origin and knows Persian as a native Iranian reported from Tehran that Iranian president said Iran would proceed with production of nuclear weapons. CNN conceded the distortion of Ahmadinejad's remarks and offered its appology. "Due to a misinterpretation, CNN misqouted the statements of Mr. Ahmadinejad", a CNN newscaster said. "we are seriously follwing the case," he said. "We apologize."
