Iran blocks Merkel flight en route to India

Iran set off a diplomatic row with Germany by closing its airspace to Chancellor Angela Merkels plane as it flew to India and delaying her arrival for an official visit.

Iran set off a diplomatic row with Germany on Tuesday by closing its airspace to Chancellor Angela Merkels plane as it flew to India and delaying her arrival for an official visit. Germany summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin to protest the breach of international protocol, said Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

Irans move to hinder the Chancellors trip is absolutely unacceptable, he said in a statement. This is a lack of respect for Germany that we wont accept, said Westerwelle,who was on an official trip to Australia.

Iran granted overflight permission to Merkels plane before it left Berlin,but it was revoked after she was airborne,the German government said. Merkels plane was forced to circle over Turkey for about two hours,said German government spokesman Steffen Seibert. He called it a violation of normal diplomatic privilege Merkel had never experienced before.

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According to the Foreign Ministry,Iran said the delay occurred because of unspecified technical and organisational developments and the Ambassador said he would inform his government immediately of Germanys position.

Christoph Heusgen,Merkels top security and foreign policy adviser,led negotiations with Iran from aboard Merkels plane and it was eventually allowed to fly over Iran,German news agency DAPD reported.