EU foreign ministers have issued a statement demanding an end to Iran's state censorship. They condemned the country for jamming the satellite signals of a number of major European broadcasters, including those of Deutsche Welle.

Ministers called the jamming "unacceptable" and called for an immediate end to the interference.

"The EU is determined to pursue these issues and to act with a view to put an end to this unacceptable situation," the statement reads.

Media under pressure

Iran has increased pressure on foreign media since anti-government protests broke out, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election last June.

Almost 70 radio and television stations that transmit via the Eutelsat satellite to Iran were jammed on February 11, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

The EU's condemnation comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, launched a fierce attack on the US and other Western countries in his address to the nation. Khamenei accused the West of supporting and siding with anti-government rioters last year.

ng/Reuters/AP/AFP
Editor: Andreas Illmer