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Deshmukh, a 40-year-old Indian national who had been in the country since January 2009, was stripped of his press card along with 10 other correspondents on February 15, a day after a major Tehran protest.

The foreign media has also been targeted and dozens of reporters were either expelled from Iran since 2009, their press cards revoked or entry visas to the country denied.

Coverage by foreign correspondents is largely restricted, and they are banned from reporting at the scene on protests by the opposition and assigned minders to report on official rallies.

The foreign media also must get official permits to interview Iranian officials and cover stories on the ground. They are almost always excluded from covering news conference, except for those given by Ahmadinejad or the foreign ministry.