TEHRAN (Tasnim) � A senior Iranian lawmaker called on French Foreign Minister Lauren Fabius, who is going to visit Iran on Wednesday, to apologize for his involvement in a scandal in which contaminated blood products imported from France infected Iranian hemophiliacs with H.I.V. back in the 1980s.

Speaking to ICANA on Monday, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Mr. Fabius owes the Iranian nation an apology for France's sale of H.I.V.-tainted blood products.

Moreover, the senior lawmaker said, related Iranian bodies, particularly the Foreign Ministry, should take action to receive compensation form France.

Boroujerdi noted that the scandal of export of French contaminated bloods to several countries, including Iran, happened during Fabius' tenure as prime minister in France.

"Following those events, the countries that had suffered losses received compensation from France, but (no compensation) was not paid to Iran," he went on to say.

In 1999, former Prime Minister Fabius and an ex-minister were acquitted of manslaughter for delaying the testing of blood meant to treat patients of hemophilia. Health Minister Edmond Herve was convicted but was never sentenced.

While a US company's blood screening was available at the time, the French government was accused of waiting for a French competitor to conduct the tests.

The case came in the spotlight after French doctor and journalist, Anne-Marie Casteret, in 1991 accused the three of knowingly distributing H.I.V.-tainted blood in 1984 and 1985.

According to Iran's Ministry of Health, approximately 300 Iranians were infected with the tainted blood products.

Despite the acquittal, which infuriated some 4,000 French victims, some Iranians still feel uneasy about Fabius's upcoming visit to Iran due to his role in the scandal.

The top French diplomat will arrive in Tehran on Wednesday following conclusion of diplomatic talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) over Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

By Tasnim News Agency