Iran's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency also aim to limit imports and curb outlays of precious hard currency. The United States has often expressed concern over the possible transfer of military technology to Iran from Russia, China and North Korea. The Islamic republic says its weapons are locally designed and produced. The district governor in charge of Ramsar, formerly a plush holiday resort on Iran's northern Caspian coast, said women cyclists would be prosecuted even if they were covered from head to toe as required by Iran's Islamic laws, Kayhan newspaper said. He called on city police to stop offenders.
Female cycling is a controversial issue in Iran.
Moderate politicians such as MP Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, have urged women to go out and play sports, including cycling. This has aroused the ire of conservatives who feel this might lead to uncontrolled freedom and promiscuity. The impeachment move was initiated by hard-liners in Iran's ruling clergy, who were outraged by Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani's efforts to give more freedom to newspapers and intellectuals. The attempted impeachment opened a floodgate of criticism against the conservative clergy, which has held absolute power since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. President Mohammad Khatami thanked Parliament on Sunday for giving Mohajerani a vote of confidence, Iranian television said in a report.