EU Iran sanctions - April 15, 2011 - English
The European Union has voted to impose assets freezes and travel restrictions on 32 Iranian officials blaming them for what it calls human rights...
The European Union has voted to impose assets freezes and travel restrictions on 32 Iranian officials blaming them for what it calls human rights abuses.
Press TV's Gisoo Misha Ahmadi reports from Tehran.
2m:59s
4741
Disgusting Sanctions to back fire on western govts - Mohammad Marandi -...
The European Union has expanded its sanctions against Iran, freezing assets and adding more officials to a visa blacklist. It cites 'serious human...
The European Union has expanded its sanctions against Iran, freezing assets and adding more officials to a visa blacklist. It cites 'serious human rights violations' for the measures - which follow other similar penalties over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. The U.S. has just drawn up a list of countries which are to be cut-off from the American financial system - if they don't reduce Iranian oil imports within 6 months. Meanwhile, Israel says its threat of a military strike on Iran is stopping it from building a suspected nuclear bomb. Tehran maintains its atomic programme is for peaceful energy purposes only. But the U.S. is against an imminent attack on the Islamic state - believing it would drag the whole region into war. For more RT talks to Middle East expert, Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi, from Beirut.
RT on Twitter http://twitter.com/RT_com
RT on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RTnews
Category:
News & Politics
Tags:
RTembargoIranIsraelnuclear fearsTehrantradeUSAmericamoneyBeirut
7m:7s
6632
*MUST WATCH* Crushing Bahrain Revolution crucial to war plans against...
Annexation - that's what tens of thousands of protesters in the Middle East are calling new Arab union plans. It comes after Saudi Arabia said it...
Annexation - that's what tens of thousands of protesters in the Middle East are calling new Arab union plans. It comes after Saudi Arabia said it wants to form an alliance with Bahrain, paving the way for an EU-style of integration. Independent political analyst Dan Glazebrook explains why he thinks the Bahraini government is so supportive of the plan.
5m:31s
5546
[28 June 2012] Should Muslims show concern for occupation of Afghanistan...
[28 June 2012] Should Muslims show concern for occupation of Afghanistan during Olympics - Islam And Life - English
Contrary to its official...
[28 June 2012] Should Muslims show concern for occupation of Afghanistan during Olympics - Islam And Life - English
Contrary to its official mottos, modern Olympic Games have been very much politicized. Governments used it as a propaganda tool for their political ideologies, most notably nationalism.
It has been used to propagate Euro centrism, fascism, communism, racial superiority and of course as a marketing and advertising instrument.
Anti-racist and human right activists have used it as platform for their ideas. In 1980, to protest Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, more than 60 countries followed the United States to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games.
Many Muslim countries joined the boycott, among them Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan.
In a similar way, the host nation of the 2012 London Olympic Games has invaded at least two Muslim countries. It still has military presence in one of the, Afghanistan.
This week's Islam and Life asks: Should the world be worried about the emerging "total war ideology" against Islam
23m:50s
9754
[02 July 2012] Iran to boost gasoline output by one million BPD - English
[02 July 2012] Iran to boost gasoline output by one million BPD - English
As the US and European Union intensify sanctions on Iran's energy...
[02 July 2012] Iran to boost gasoline output by one million BPD - English
As the US and European Union intensify sanctions on Iran's energy industry, Iran continues to develop its oil facilities using domestic capability.
Press TV's Amir Mehdi Kazemi reports from Tehran.
2m:48s
7014
[14 July 2012] Suu Kyi silent on Muslims cleansing in Myanmar - English
[14 July 2012] Suu Kyi silent on Muslims cleansing in Myanmar - English
A program against a population of Muslims called the Rohingyas began in...
[14 July 2012] Suu Kyi silent on Muslims cleansing in Myanmar - English
A program against a population of Muslims called the Rohingyas began in June, which has been called an ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population. Why hasn't this received more international coverage? Certainly, Myanmar has become an example of democracy as deemed recently by the United States, the European Union and Canada.
In this news analysis examines why the Rohingya Muslims, as they are called, are facing this fate, as Myanmar's President Thein Sein says Rohingya Muslims must be expelled from the country and sent to refugee camps run by the United Nations, who have in turn, refused them.
24m:33s
7873
[09 Aug 2012] ECJ EU sanctions against Iranians illegal - English
[09 Aug 2012] ECJ EU sanctions against Iranians illegal - English
Since 2010 the European Union has been steadily increasing its sanctions against...
[09 Aug 2012] ECJ EU sanctions against Iranians illegal - English
Since 2010 the European Union has been steadily increasing its sanctions against Tehran.These prevent the bloc's 27 member states from purchasing Iran's oil but they also include sanctions against certain Iranian individuals.
3m:9s
9108
[23 May 13] African Union can halt NATO imperialism - English
Press TV has conducted an interview with Abiyome Azikiwe, political analyst, Detroit about the issue of the French war on Mali with 3,700 troops,...
Press TV has conducted an interview with Abiyome Azikiwe, political analyst, Detroit about the issue of the French war on Mali with 3,700 troops, 1,000 of which intend to stay beyond 2013 despite the presence of UN forces there.
4m:50s
4099
[05 June 13] Debate : No to military intervention in Syria - English
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against any attempt at foreign military intervention in Syria, stressing that the move would only make...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against any attempt at foreign military intervention in Syria, stressing that the move would only make the situation worse.
Speaking at a joint news conference after a summit with European Union leaders in Yekaterinburg, Putin said on Tuesday that any future foreign military intervention in Syria is doomed to fail.
24m:44s
5589
[29 June 13] European Union among target of US spying programs - English
German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that the US National Security Agency (NSA), bugged offices and spied on EU internal...
German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that the US National Security Agency (NSA), bugged offices and spied on EU internal computer networks in Washington, New York and Brussels
3m:36s
4764
Hezbollah S.G. Nasrallah to EU: Soak Your Terror List & Drink its...
25/05/13 - Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah directs a short message to the European Union. These comments were made at a time...
25/05/13 - Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah directs a short message to the European Union. These comments were made at a time when talk about the EU blacklisting his movement on their terror list was increasing due to Hezbollah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s intervention in the battle of Qusayr, Syria.
(With English Subtitles)
This video is a subtitled excerpt from a speech delivered on 25/05/13.
Credit: KeysToEternity
2m:10s
20232
[24 Oct 2013] Berlin accuses washington of monitoring Merkel cell phone...
The European Union\'s Justice Commissioner says time is ripe for a QUOTE strong and united stand on data protection against US surveillance...
The European Union\'s Justice Commissioner says time is ripe for a QUOTE strong and united stand on data protection against US surveillance operations.
Viviane Reding called on European states to adopt a data protection law for facing the US as a strong and united entity. This comes amid new reports that the US has been spying on its European allies. Germany has summoned the US ambassador to Berlin over reports that Washington had monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel\'s cell phone. Merkel herself has called the U-S president to demand immediate clarification. She\'s also set to discuss Washington\'s snooping in Europe with French President Francois Hollande during a two-day EU summit in Brussels. The White House says Obama has assured Merkel that her cell is not being tapped.
4m:0s
5984
[08 Nov 2013] Iran deputy FM Trilateral talks productive but much work...
Iran, the US, and the European Union have ended their negotiations to hammer out a draft deal on Iran\'s nuclear energy program on Friday. The...
Iran, the US, and the European Union have ended their negotiations to hammer out a draft deal on Iran\'s nuclear energy program on Friday. The talks now stretch into the third day on Saturday.
Iran\'s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has described the trilateral discussions as productive. Araqchi, however, added that lots of work still remains to do. American sources also said progress has been made, but there\'s more work to do. The comments come after five hours of intense negotiations between Iran\'s Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, his U-S counterpart John Kerry, and EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton. The three were working on a draft agreement which many say could be a breakthrough in Iran\'s nuclear energy case. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and a Chinese deputy foreign minister are also on their way to Geneva to join the negotiations.
2m:47s
6930
[25 Nov 2013] France says EU would remove some of Iran sanctions in...
France says the European Union would likely lift some sanctions on Iran in December as part of a nuclear deal between Tehran and the five permanent...
France says the European Union would likely lift some sanctions on Iran in December as part of a nuclear deal between Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabuius has said that in a few weeks time, the EU foreign ministers would sit down for talks over the partial removal of sanctions on Iran. He noted that the lifting of sanctions would be limited, targeted and reversible. France\'s top diplomat also described as unlikely any strike on Iran by Israel, saying no one would understand such an attack at this stage. On Sunday, Iran signed an agreement with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany over its nuclear program in Geneva. Under the deal-- the first of its kind in a decade, Iran will limit its nuclear program in return for the loosening of sanctions.
0m:53s
6906
[01 Dec 2013] Iran condemns reinstatement of EU sanctions - English
Following the European Union\'s latest move to renew its sanctions on a number of Iranian firms, Tehran has called on the bloc to toe the line of...
Following the European Union\'s latest move to renew its sanctions on a number of Iranian firms, Tehran has called on the bloc to toe the line of confidence-building and mutual understanding. Iran\'s Foreign Ministry has also rejected any unilateral sanctions by the EU, and urged it to move in line with the recent nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.
3m:5s
5280
[16 Dec 2013] EU to lift Iran sanctions if Tehran implements Geneva deal...
The European Union says it\'s ready to suspend some sanctions against Iran as soon as experts check that Tehran is implementing the terms of the...
The European Union says it\'s ready to suspend some sanctions against Iran as soon as experts check that Tehran is implementing the terms of the Geneva deal.
The bloc says it backs the deal as a sign of the commitment of all sides to build trust over Iran\'s nuclear activities. A statement from EU foreign ministers says a swift implementation of the voluntary measures by all sides is now key. The statement also adds that Iran has to implement its commitments in good faith and the EU is committed to suspending sanctions as set out in the deal. The bloc says sanctions will be suspended after inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency verify the implementation of nuclear-related measures by Iran.
0m:43s
6839
[20 Dec 2013] EU envoy warns Tel Aviv against failure of talks with PA -...
The European Union\\\'s envoy to the Middle East has warned Israel against the failure of the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority....
The European Union\\\'s envoy to the Middle East has warned Israel against the failure of the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Andreas Reinicke says support in Europe for sanctioning Israel over its settlement policies is growing and could intensify IF the talks with Palestinians fail. Reinicke, who is leaving his post next week, said he has been in touch with US mediators. The campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel has been gaining momentum for some time. The EU envoy says over a dozen of states are now in support of the idea of labeling the Israeli goods from the occupied territories. This over Israeli violations - including its settlement expansions. Several academic bodies in the US have already decided to boycott Israeli academia over Tel Aviv\\\'s violation of international law.
0m:52s
6628
[22 Dec 2013] EU envoy warns Israel against failure of talks with...
The European Union\'s envoy to the Middle East has warned Israel against the failure of the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority....
The European Union\'s envoy to the Middle East has warned Israel against the failure of the so-called peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.
Andreas Reinicke says support in Europe for sanctioning Israel over its settlement policies is growing and could intensify IF the talks with Palestinians fail. Reinicke, who is leaving his post next week, said he has been in touch with US mediators. The campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel has been gaining momentum for some time. The EU envoy says over a dozen of states are now in support of the idea of labeling the Israeli goods from the occupied territories. This over Israeli violations - including its settlement expansions. Several academic bodies in the US have already decided to boycott Israeli academia over Tel Aviv\'s violation of international law.
3m:58s
6453
[09 Jan 2014] Iran, EU, US hold talks over how to implement Geneva deal...
Iran, the European Union and the US hold talks on remaining issues related to implementing the Geneva deal between Tehran and the P5+1.
The...
Iran, the European Union and the US hold talks on remaining issues related to implementing the Geneva deal between Tehran and the P5+1.
The talks in Geneva come a few days after expert-level negotiations between representatives of Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. The Iranian deputy foreign minister says there are still three technical points that need to be further discussed. Based on the Geneva deal between Iran and the P5+1, Tehran will limit some aspects of its nuclear energy program in return for the removal of some sanctions.
3m:51s
6500
[16 Jan 2014] israeli PM raps EU for summoning envoys over settlement...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the European Union for summoning Israeli envoys over Tel Aviv\\\'s settlement plans....
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the European Union for summoning Israeli envoys over Tel Aviv\\\'s settlement plans.
Netanyahu has slammed the EU\\\'s latest move, saying the bloc should end its quote hypocrisy over condemning Israeli settlements. Earlier in the day, Israel\\\'s ambassadors in Britain, France, Italy and Spain were summoned over Tel Aviv\\\'s latest settlement plans. A senior European diplomat says EU officials have made clear the settlement announcements have negative impacts on the so-called peace talks. The bloc\\\'s urged Israel to refrain from such moves and use the unique opportunity of talks to end the conflict between the two sides. The EU\\\'s latest move follows Tel Aviv\\\'s recent unveiling of a plan for more than 18-thousand new settler units in east Jerusalem al-Quds and the West Bank.
0m:49s
7553
[14 Jan 2014] EU,US lift some economic sanctions against Iran - English
The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched...
The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched uranium.
EU officials say the decision is part of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and the permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. American authorities also say that the US secretary of state has approved Iran\'s sanctions relief waiver. The White House, however, says the US will continue its aggressive enforcement of sanction measures that remain in place against Iran.
6m:4s
6371
[20 Jan 2014] EU to ease part of anti-Iran sanctions - English
The European Union will immediately lift some of its economic sanctions against Iran now that the country has suspended enrichment of uranium to...
The European Union will immediately lift some of its economic sanctions against Iran now that the country has suspended enrichment of uranium to the 20-percent purity level at Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that these measures implemented the first steps of the historic agreement reached between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany last November. The Islamic Republic has also started the process to dilute and oxidize its 196-kilos stockpile of 20-percent-enriched uranium. In exchange, the EU and the United States have agreed they will gradually release blocked funds.
2m:6s
11931
[20 Jan 2014] EU, US lifting some economic sanctions against Tehran -...
The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched...
The European Union and the US have decided to lift some economic sanctions on Iran after Tehran stopped its production of 20-percent enriched uranium.
EU officials say the decision is part of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and the permanent members of the U-N Security Council plus Germany. A statement by the European bloc says the suspension is for a period of six months. Meanwhile, American authorities also say that the US secretary of state has approved Iran\'s sanctions relief waiver. The White House, however, says the US will continue its QUOTE aggressive enforcement of sanction measures that remain in place against Iran. This comes after it was confirmed that Tehran has carried out its part of the Geneva agreement.
2m:8s
6580
[28 Jan 2014] Ukraine dominates EU-Russia Summit - English
Ukraine\'s political crisis has dominated the summit between the European Union and Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin assuring...
Ukraine\'s political crisis has dominated the summit between the European Union and Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin assuring Ukrainians that Moscow would honor a loan deal whatever government emerges in Kiev. Despite that, trade talks between the EU and former soviet states continue to create tensions. The EU blames pressure from Moscow for the breakdown in trade negotiations between the EU and Ukraine. The EU also claims this has led to the current crisis in Ukraine.
The EU and Russia have been negotiating a \'new basic agreement\', as it is called, for years.
2m:16s
5579
[08 Feb 2014] Gaza unemployment levels among worst in world - English
The Union of the Metal Industry Workers in the blockaded coastal enclave has announced that there are around seven thousand workers currently...
The Union of the Metal Industry Workers in the blockaded coastal enclave has announced that there are around seven thousand workers currently unemployed due to the Israeli blockade and Egypt\'s closure of the borders.
About %90 of Gaza factories, 3900 factories, are shut down due to the blockade. Factories have been shuttered due to the shortage of machinery, raw material, and the ongoing power crisis.
1m:52s
5322
President Ahmadinejad Interview Sept 08 with Democracy Now - Part 1 -...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the Threat of US Attack and International Criticism of Iran’s Human Rights Record
In part one of an...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the Threat of US Attack and International Criticism of Iran’s Human Rights Record
In part one of an interview with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad talks about the threat of a US attack on Iran and responds to international criticism of Iran’s human rights record. We also get reaction from CUNY Professor Ervand Abrahamian, an Iran expert and author of several books on Iran.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the United Nations General Assembly this week, while the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, is meeting in Vienna to discuss Iran’s alleged nuclear program. An IAEA report earlier this month criticized Iran for failing to fully respond to questions about its nuclear activities.
The European Union told the IAEA Wednesday that it believes Iran is moving closer to being able to arm a nuclear warhead. Iran could face a fourth set of Security Council sanctions over its nuclear activities, but this week Russia has refused to meet with the US on this issue.
The Iranian president refuted the IAEA’s charges in his speech to the General Assembly and accused the agency of succumbing to political pressure. He also welcomed talks with the United States if it cuts back threats to use military force against Iran.
AMY GOODMAN: As with every visit of the Iranian president to New York, some groups protested outside the United Nations. But this year, President Ahmadinejad also met with a large delegation of American peace activists concerned with the escalating possibility of war with Iran.
Well, yesterday, just before their meeting, Juan Gonzalez and I sat down with the Iranian president at his hotel, blocks from the UN, for a wide-ranging discussion about US-Iran relations, Iran’s nuclear program, threat of war with the US, the Israel-Palestine conflict, human rights in Iran and much more.
Today, part one of our interview with the Iranian president.
AMY GOODMAN: Welcome to Democracy Now!, President Ahmadinejad. You’ve come to the United States. What is your message to people in the United States and to the world community at the UN?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] In the name of God, the compassion of the Merciful, the president started by reciting verses from the Holy Quran in Arabic.
Hello. Hello to the people of America. The message from the nation and people of Iran is one of peace, tranquility and brotherhood. We believe that viable peace and security can happen when it is based on justice and piety and purity. Otherwise, no peace will occur.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Mr. President, you’re faced now in Iran with American soldiers in Iraq to your west, with American soldiers and NATO troops to your east in Afghanistan, and with Blackwater, the notorious military contractor, training the military in Azerbaijan, another neighbor of yours. What is the effect on your country of this enormous presence of American forces around Iran and the impact of these wars on your own population?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] It’s quite natural that when there are wars around your borders, it brings about negative repercussions for the entire region. These days, insecurity cannot be bordered; it just extends beyond boundaries. In the past two years, we had several cases of bomb explosions in southern towns in Iran carried out by people who were supervised by the occupying forces in our neighborhood. And in Afghanistan, following the presence of NATO troops, the production of illicit drugs has multiplied. It’s natural that it basically places pressure on Iran, including costly ones in order to fight the flow of illicit drugs.
We believe the people in the region are able to establish security themselves, on their own, so there is no need for foreigners and external forces, because these external forces have not helped the security of the region.
AMY GOODMAN: Do you see them as a threat to you?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] Well, it’s natural that when there is insecurity, it threatens everyone.
JUAN GONZALEZ: I’d like to turn for a moment to your domestic policies and law enforcement in your country. Human Rights Watch, which has often criticized the legal system in the United States, says that, under your presidency, there has been a great expansion in the scope and the number of individuals and activities persecuted by the government. They say that you’ve jailed teachers who are fighting for wages and better pensions, students and activists working for reform, and other labor leaders, like Mansour Ossanlou from the bus workers’ union. What is your response to these criticisms of your policies?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] I think that the human rights situation in Iran is relatively a good one, when compared to the United States and other countries. Of course, when we look at the ideals that are dear to us, we understand that we still need to do a lot, because we seek divine and religious ideals and revolutionary ones. But when we compare ourselves with some European countries and the United States, we feel we’re in a much better place.
A large part of the information that these groups receive come from criticisms coming from groups that oppose the government. If you look at it, we have elections in Iran every year. And the propaganda is always around, too. But they’re not always true. Groups accuse one another.
But within the region and compared to the United States, we have the smallest number of prisoners, because in Iran, in general, there is not so much inclination to imprison people. We’re actually looking at our existing laws right now to see how we can eliminate most prisons around the country. So, you can see that people in Iran like each other. They live coexistently and like the government, too. This news is more important to these groups, not so much for the Iranian people. You have to remember, we have over 70 million people in our country, and we have laws. Some people might violate it, and then, according to the law, the judiciary takes charge. And this happens everywhere. What really matters is that in the end there are the least amount of such violations of the law in Iran, the least number.
So, I think the interpretation of these events is a wrong one. The relationship between the people and the government in Iran is actually a very close one. And criticizing the government is absolutely free for all. That’s exactly why everyone says what they want. There’s really no restrictions. It doesn’t necessarily mean that everything you hear is always true. And the government doesn’t really respond to it, either. It’s just free.
JUAN GONZALEZ: Let me ask you in particular about the question of the execution of juveniles. My understanding is that Iran is one of only five or six nations in the world that still execute juveniles convicted of capital offenses and that you—by far, you execute the most. I think twenty-six of the last thirty-two juveniles executed in the world were executed in Iran. How is this a reflection of the—of a state guided by religious principles, to execute young people?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] Firstly, nobody is executed under the age of eighteen in Iran. This is the first point. And then, please pay attention to the fact that the legal age in Iran is different from yours. It’s not eighteen and doesn’t have to be eighteen everywhere. So, it’s different in different countries. I’ll ask you, if a person who happens to be seventeen years old and nine months kills one of your relatives, will you just overlook that?
AMY GOODMAN: We’ll continue our interview with Iranian President Ahmadinejad after break.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: We return to our interview with the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
JUAN GONZALEZ: I’d like to ask you, recently the Bush administration agreed to provide Israel with many new bunker buster bombs that people speculate might be used against Iran. Your reaction to this decision by the Bush administration? And do you—and there have been numerous reports in the American press of the Bush administration seeking to finance a secret war against Iran right now.
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] Well, we actually think that the US administration and some other governments have equipped the Zionist regime with the nuclear warhead for those bombs, too. So, what are we to tell the American administration, a government that seeks a solution to all problems through war? Their logic is one of war. In the past twenty years, Americans’ military expenditures have multiplied. So I think the problem should be resolved somewhere else, meaning the people of America themselves must decide about their future. Do they like new wars to be waged in their names that kill nations or have their money spent on warfare? So I think that’s where the problem can be addressed.
AMY GOODMAN: The investigative reporter Seymour Hersh said the Bush administration held a meeting in Vice President Cheney’s office to discuss ways to provoke a war with Iran. Hersh said it was considered possibly a meeting to stage an incident, that it would appear that Iranian boats had attacked US forces in the Straits of Hormuz. Do you have any evidence of this?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] Well, you have to pay attention to find that a lot of this kind of stuff is published out there. There’s no need for us to react to it.
Of course, Mr. Bush is very interested to start a new war. But he confronts two big barriers. One is the incapability in terms of maneuverability and operationally. Iran is a very big country, a very powerful country, very much capable of defending itself. The second barrier is the United States itself. We think there are enough wise people in this country to prevent the unreasonable actions by the administration. Even among the military commanders here, there are many people with wisdom who will stop a new war. I think the beginning or the starting a new war will mark the beginning of the end of the United States of America. Many people can understand that.
But I also think that Mr. Bush’s administration is coming to an end. Mr. Bush still has one other chance to make up for the mistakes he did in the past. He has no time to add to those list of mistakes. He can only make up for them. And that’s a very good opportunity to have. So, I would advise him to take advantage of this opportunity, so that at least while you’re in power, you do a couple—few good acts, as well. It’s better than to end one’s work with a report card of failures and of abhorrent acts. We’re willing to help him in doing good. We’ll be very happy.
AMY GOODMAN: And your nuclear program?
PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: [translated] Our time seems to be over, but our nuclear program is peaceful. It’s very transparent for everyone to see.
Your media is a progressive one. Let me just say a sentence here.
I think that the time for the atomic bomb has reached an end. Don’t you feel that yourself? What will determine the future is culture, it’s the power of thought. Was the atomic bomb able to save the former Soviet Union from collapsing? Was it able to give victory to the Zionist regime of confronting the Palestinians? Was it able to resolve America’s or US problems in Iraq and Afghanistan? Naturally, its usage has come to an end.
It’s very wrong to spend people’s money building new atomic bombs. This money should be spent on creating welfare, prosperity, health, education, employment, and as aid that should be distributed among others’ countries, to destroy the reasons for war and for insecurity and terrorism. Rest assured, whoever who seeks to have atomic bombs more and more is just politically backward. And those who have these arsenals and are busy making new generations of those bombs are even more backward.
I think a disloyalty has occurred to the human community. Atomic energy power is a clean one. It’s a renewable one, and it is a positive [inaudible]. Up to this day, we’ve identified at least sixteen positive applications from it. We’re already aware that the extent to which we have used fossil fuels has imbalanced the climate of the world, brought about a lot of pollution, as well as a lot of diseases, as a result. So what’s wrong with all countries having peaceful nuclear power and enjoying the benefits of this energy? It’s actually a power that is constructively environmental. All those nuclear powers have come and said, well, having nuclear energy is the equivalent of having an atomic bomb pretty much—just a big lie.
AMY GOODMAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Tomorrow, part two of our conversation. But right now, we’re joined by Ervand Abrahamian. He’s an Iran expert, CUNY Distinguished Professor of History at Baruch College, City University of New York, author of a number of books, most recently, A History of Modern Iran.
Welcome to Democracy Now! Can you talk about both what the Iranian president said here and his overall trip? Was it a different message this year?
ERVAND ABRAHAMIAN: No, it’s very much the same complacency, that, you know, everything’s fine. There may be some problems in Iran and in foreign relations, but overall, Iran is confident and is—basically the mantra of the administration in Iran is that no one in their right senses would think of attacking Iran. And I think the Iranian government’s whole policy is based on that. I wish I was as confident as Ahmadinejad is.
JUAN GONZALEZ: And his dismissing of the situation, the human rights situation, in Iran, basically ascribing any arrests to some lawbreakers? Your sense of what is the human rights situation right there?
ERVAND ABRAHAMIAN: Well, I mean, he basically changed the question and talked about, you know, the probably two million prisoners in America, which is of course true, but it certainly changes the topic of the discussion.
Now, in Iran, you can be imprisoned for the talking of abolishing capital punishment. In fact, that’s considered blasphemy, and academics have been charged with capital offense for actually questioning capital punishment. So, he doesn’t really want to address those issues. And there have been major purges in the university recently, and of course the plight of the newspapers is very dramatic. I mean, mass newspapers have been closed down. Editors have been brought before courts, and so on. So, I would find that the human rights situation—I would agree with the Human Rights Watch, that things are bad.
But I would like to stress that human rights organizations in Iran don’t want that issue involved with the US-Iran relations, because every time the US steps in and tries to champion a question of human rights, I think that backfires in Iran, because most Iranians know the history of US involvement in Iran, and they feel it’s hypocrisy when the Bush administration talks about human rights. So they would like to distance themselves. And Shirin Ebadi, of course, the Nobel Peace Prize, has made it quite clear that she doesn’t want this championing by the United States of the human rights issue.
AMY GOODMAN: Big protest outside. The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, the Israel Project, UJ Federation of New York, United Jewish Communities protested. They invited Hillary Clinton. She was going to speak. But they invited—then they invited Governor Palin, and so then Clinton pulled out, so they had had to disinvite Palin. And then you had the peace movement inside, meeting with Ahmadinejad.
ERVAND ABRAHAMIAN: Yes, I think—I mean, the demonstrations outside are basically pushing for some sort of air strikes on the premise that Iran is an imminent threat and trying to build up that sort of pressure on the administration. And clearly, I think the Obama administration would not want to do that, but they would probably have a fair good hearing in the—if there was a McCain administration.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, we’re going to leave it there. Part two of our conversation tomorrow. We talk about the Israel-Palestine issue, we talk about the treatment of gay men and lesbians in Iran, and we talk about how the Iraq war has affected Iran with the Iranian president
President Ahmadinejad was interviewed recently in New York by Democracy Now
8m:17s
19070