Iranian Information Minister Esmail Khatib said the United States has taken Europe hostage. His words are quoted by the IRNA agency.

According to Khatib, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) dictates the political course of many European countries, especially Germany and France. As an example, he cited French President Emmanuel Macron, for whom, Khatib says, decisions are made by "a second-rate source from the CIA." To do this, Macron no longer needs to turn to US President Joe Biden, the Iranian politician said.

“We have materials that testify to the presence of the United States in France and Germany, as well as how the United States manages the relations of some countries of the Persian Gulf with Europe,” the minister explained.

Earlier it was reported that the Iranian government does not rule out the blocking of bank accounts of Iranian women who do not wear the hijab.