Iran summoned Australia's ambassador in Tehran over the publication of online content it deemed "norm-breaking", the semi-official ILNA news agency said on Tuesday, a day after state media said the post "promoted homosexuality".
Western rights groups have often accused Iran's clerical authorities of restricting social and sexual freedoms © Mena Today
Iran summoned Australia's ambassador in Tehran over the publication of online content it deemed "norm-breaking", the semi-official ILNA news agency said on Tuesday, a day after state media said the post "promoted homosexuality".
The post on the embassy's official Instagram account celebrated "Wear it Purple Day" and expressed dedication to creating "a supporting environment where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves".
ILNA quoted Australian Ambassador Ian McConville as saying the post was not intended to insult the Iranian people and their values, and that the Islamic Republic was not mentioned in it.
The post remains on the embassy's Instagram account.
In 2022, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described homosexuality as part of the "moral depravity" widespread in Western civilisation.
Western rights groups have often accused Iran's clerical authorities of restricting social and sexual freedoms - gay sex is outlawed and can be punished by the death penalty. Tehran says the criticism is baseless and arises from a lack of understanding of its Islamic legal code.
Reporting by Dubai Newsroom
No ships have made it past a U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back, the U.S. military said on Tuesday, providing the first details on a day-old effort ordered by President Donald Trump after peace talks between the U.S. and Iran broke down.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades on Tuesday and both sides said they held positive discussions although it was not immediately clear if they agreed to a framework for peace.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has signaled his country's desire for full normalization with Lebanon, just ahead of a key round of peace talks scheduled in Washington.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.