Why don't Iranians wear ties?

This has to be one of the best stories on the BBC News website so far. From BBC News:
The male British captives freed by Iran were pictured in government-issued suits and, like President Ahmadinejad, sported open neck shirts. Does no one in Iran wear a tie?

Iranians, however, are prohibited from wearing ties in Iran because they contribute to the spreading of western culture, according to the website of the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khameini.

The practice stems from the 1979 Islamic revolution when the monarchy was overthrown and a unique Islamic republic was declared, in which religious clerics - headed by Ayatollah Khomeini - wielded ultimate political control.

Neckties - and bowties - were said to be decadent, un-Islamic and viewed as "symbols of the Cross" and the oppressive West. Iranians were told to wear "standard Islamic garments" designed to remove ethnic and class distinctions reflected in clothing.
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So, the political power in Iran comes from religious leaders. Well, that's clever: allowing religion to ultimately be your judge, jury and executioner. It doesn't matter if you think religion is stupid, if you're born in Iran you pretty much have to do everything according to Islamic ideas, no matter how much that goes against your own beliefs. Yes, in 'the oppressive West' we have laws, but these are based on democracy and the right of everyone to have a say in what happens, we don't put religion in charge of us. Ah, but in the eyes of 'the oppressed East' (TM) this is why we are immoral dictators and crusaders, because we don't follow religion. We don't follow the insane belief that there's some deity with the power to send us to heaven - a place of peace and tranquility where everything good happens - or to hell - where we get red hot pokers shoved up our asses for all eternity. We simply aren't all that thick.

Did their prophet Mohammed put anything in the Koran about not wearing ties? No, because they weren't around then, so what we have here is a bunch of religious people who take the idea that people should dress only in standard Islamic garments a little too literally. Except they don't! President Nutjob Ahmadinejad wears suits (sans tie, of course). Isn't that a class distinction? I can't see every Iranian male wearing suits, so the President ignores that rule, but still sticks to not wearing a tie. A mountain of hypocrisy!

So, wearing a tie is spreading western culture? I guess your country would function just fine without computers and the associated technology developed in the West then? And how about nuclear technology? That sure as heck didn't come out of the Middle East! Practice what you preach, Iran, and get back to the Stone Age where you want to belong.

Anyway, religion, bobbins, nutjobs, pathetic, etc.