Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran, says foreign governments should not meddle in Iran’s post-election affairs. Pahlavi, also known as the Crown Prince of Iran, warns that such interference will create harmful results. (:20)
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
U.S. Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has introduced a resolution to show support for citizens in Iran who voted against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Rep. Pence described these citizens as being in a struggle for “freedom, civil liberties and the protection of the rule of law.” The Congressman said the resolution will also acknowledge U.S. concern over irregularities reported in the June 12 Iranian Presidential election.
Pence added that the resolution “will condemn the violence against demonstrators by pro-government militia in Tehran in the wake of the elections. It will affirm our belief in the individuality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.”
The Congressman remarked that he appreciated President Obama’s comments yesterday about the troubling violence in Tehran. However, he believes the administration should do more to express the “unqualified support of the American people” for Iranians fighting for free elections and democracy.
“We cannot stand idly by, speak of Iran’s sovereignty, speak of her own right to choose her own leadership at a time when hundreds of thousands of Iranians are risking their lives to stand up for free elections and democracy,” added Pence.
The resolution is titled H.R. 549.
Talk Radio News Service’s Geoff Holtzman interviewed Dr. Walid Phares (”Fair-ess”) from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies about the results of last week’s Presidential election in Iran. Dr. Phares argued that the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proves that Democracy in Iran is nothing more than a farse. (10:11)
by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
“If the United States is able to set a new tone in context with the
relationship in Afghanistan and elsewhere I think in of that
itself will change the nuclear calculations of Iran’s leadership.”
said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.
In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled “Iranian
Political and Nuclear Realities and U.S. Policy Options” witnesses
gave their recommendations on how the U.S. should approach Iran
concerning nuclear production. The hearing comes after a report
released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that
Natanz, an Iranian nuclear plant, has gained enough reactor-grade
uranium to allow Iran to create an atomic bomb.
Sadjapour focused on three key options that he thinks the U.S. should
follow. The first being to commence the dialogue with Iran by aiming
to build confidence on areas of common interest such as Afghanistan
and Iraq rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear
issue. “Focus on Supreme leader in Iran, Khamenei not the President,
Ahmadinejad. If I had to describe him (Ahmadinejad) in one word, is
mistrustful…He believes that if you compromise you project
weakness.” he said. Sadjapour also stated that it is imperative that
the U.S. maintain an airtight international approach saying that each
country should approach Iran with the same talking points.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia and Egypt, Frank Wisner, said that Iran
is important, Iran is dangerous and Iran is urgent. “I do not believe
in the military option…there is no room for a military
response…the issues of national survival that are first and foremost
on Iran’s mind gives me some hope that we can get traction if we chose
to engage and engage fully but I won’t pretend for a moment that
dealing with Iranians will not be extremely tough. There will be many
setbacks and many deceptions…I personally welcome as I’m certain all
of us do, an appointment of a new special representative to take a
hard look at Iran and our foreign policies.” he concluded.
In contrast to US president George Bush’s failure to conduct a press encounter at this week’s United Nations General Assembly, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took questions from the media during an hour-long press conference yesterday at UN headquarters in New York.
During the conversation, which was at times confrontational, Ahmadinejad retained a sense of relaxed composure. Though he skirted issues such as detention of dissidents, media transparency, and nuclear threats to Israel, Ahmadinejad was willing to engage on multiple, controversial topics.
Ahmadinejad spoke of his country’s willingness to allow IAEA inspectors in to Iran, and denied the possibility that Iran would preemptively attack Israel, stating that “[the world] is entering a post-nuclear” era. The president also discussed his willingness to cooperate with the Iraqi government, cautioned the West about it’s excursion in Afghanistan, and warned of the hazards of continued violence in the Middle East.
Listen to Audio File (5:06), via translation
Listen to Entire Press Conference (59:10), via translation
Ahmadinejad General Assembly Press Conference - Opening Remarks: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Ahmadinejad General Assembly Press Conference - Full Audio: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadProfessor Ali Ansari, director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St. Andrews, said that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a politically-motivated leader who overlooks domestic problems in Iran because he is focused on imperial initiatives, which will only increase problems in Iran.(1:08)
Two experts on Iranian foreign policy discussed their respective theories on
Iran’s electoral trends and security policies. Professor Ali Ansari, director of the
Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St. Andrews, claimed that as
Iran’s domestic situation worsens, President Ahmadinejad tends to focus on
international issues, which will only hurt Iran. (more…)
At an American Enterprise Institute discussion on “The Ahmadinejad Presidency and its Impact on Iranian Civil and Political Society,” Tom Parker, executive director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, describes an Iranian Ministry of Intelligence public information film in which American politicians, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) are portrayed plotting the overthrow of the Iranian government with the help of human rights advocate groups. (0:52)
At an American Enterprise Institute discussion on “The Ahmadinejad Presidency and its Impact on Iranian Civil and Political Society,” Iran Nameh editor Hormoz Hekmat says that “everyone knows there are no political parties in Iran” and refers to the Iranian elections as “non-elections” in which the elected parties have “nothing to do” with the people’s designs for their government. (0:44)
The American Enterprise Association held a discussion on Iranian society under the current Ahmadinejad presidency, focusing on its impact on civil liberties and political efficacy.
Tom Parker, executive director of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, said that the human rights situation in Iran “is not good,” and is “typical of many authoritarian regimes” where minorities are routinely discriminated against and denied basic rights. Targeted groups for whose safety the organization is “greatly worried” include Sunnis, Suffis, women, homosexual men, bloggers, and ethnic minorities like Kurds and Arabs. (more…)
