Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi canceled an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour after she refused to wear a headscarf.
Raisi, in the United States for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, backed out of the interview after making a last-minute request that she wear the headscarf, CNN reported.
Amanpour, who grew up in Tehran, Iran's capital, maintained she wears a headscarf when she reports from Iran to comply with local laws and customs.
"Here in New York, or anywhere else outside of Iran, I have never been asked by any Iranian president — and I have interviewed every single one of them since 1995 — either inside or outside of Iran, never been asked to wear a head scarf," she said on CNN's "New Day" program Thursday.
"I very politely declined on behalf of myself and CNN, and female journalists everywhere, because it is not a requirement."
She detailed her decision in a series of tweets on Thursday.
"Protests are sweeping Iran & women are burning their hijabs after the death last week of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest by the 'morality police,' she tweeted. "Human rights groups say at least 8 have been killed. Last night, I planned to ask President Raisi about all this and much more.
"This was going to be President Raisi's first ever interview on U.S. soil, during his visit to NY for UNGA. After weeks of planning and eight hours of setting up translation equipment, lights and cameras, we were ready. But no sign of President Raisi.
"40 minutes after the interview had been due to start, an aide came over. The president, he said, was suggesting I wear a headscarf, because it's the holy months of Muharram and Safar."
She said she then turned down the request and the interview was called off.
"And so we walked away," she said. "The interview didn't happen. As protests continue in Iran and people are being killed, it would have been an important moment to speak with President Raisi."
In one of the tweets, she posted a photo of her sitting in a chair facing an empty chair, where apparently Raisi was to sit for the interview.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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