Foreign journalists invited back by Iran to cover war

Iran has lifted its ban on foreign news media and invited foreign journalists , including expelled American and British correspondents, back to Iran to cover the war with Iraq, the Iranian government news agency said. It assured journalists "wishing to travel to Iran to cover events at the war fronts" they will be able to obtain necessary visas at Iranian diplomatic offices abroad. Expulsion of foreign journalists from Tehran started in August 1979, and in January nearly 100 representatives of foreign newspapers, news agencies, and electronic media were ordered out. The last American news agency representative was expelled in July.

Meanwhile, Tehran Radio said Iraqi troops and tanks had entered the Iranian town of Susangerd, with both sides suffering heavy casualties in house-to-house fighting.