| Editorial Commentary: Despite the fact that Canada closed its embassy in Tehran and expelled Iranian officials from Canada, Iran appears to be willing to carry on diplomacy against Canada's wishes. This article from the Tehran Times notes that a mission of Iranian parliamentarians has departed for Québec where they will participate in an international conference. The speaker of Iran's parliament will not attend - presumably as protest against Canada's unilateral churlishness - but Iran has clearly not abandoned international diplomacy, even if Canada has. -prh, Editor Axis of Logic Iranian parliamentary delegation travels to Quebec to attend IPU assembly TEHRAN, Sunday, 21 October 2012– An Iranian parliamentary delegation left Tehran for Quebec City in Canada on Friday to attend the 127th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings from October 21 to 26. Over 150 participating countries and non-governmental organizations will discuss the role of parliaments in addressing the challenges of citizenship, and identity, linguistic, and cultural diversity in a globalized world during the event. Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani was scheduled to participate in the assembly but canceled his trip in response to the Canadian government’s decision to close its embassy in Tehran. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird announced on September 7 that Canada had closed its embassy in Tehran. And it expelled all remaining Iranian diplomats in Canada within five days. Source URL |