Mousavi makes a major statement on the protests that are rocking Egypt and other Arab countries:
The Middle East is on the verge of defining and massive moments which can change the course of the destiny of this region, the world and the fate of other nations in the region. What is taking shape now is certainly overthrowing a despotic and tyrannical rule and trend which has been overwhelming the fate of many nations in the region. The starting point of what we are now witnessing on the streets of Tunis, Sanaa, Cairo, Alexandria and Suez can be undoubtedly traced back to days of 15th, 18th and 20th June 2009 when people took to the streets of Tehran in millions shouting “Where is my vote?” and peacefully demanded to get back their denied rights.
Today, the slogan of “Where is my vote?” of the people of Iran has reached Egypt and transformed into “The people want the overthrow of the regime”. In order to discover the secret of these links and these similarities, one does not have to go too far. You just have to compare the recent elections in Egypt with our own and compare it with the chairman of the Guardian Council who explicitly says there is no need for millions of votes by Green citizens. If we look at the collapsing political regimes in the Arab world and the Middle East carefully, we can identify a similar pattern of invading and shutting down social networks, the press and the cyber space. In an amazingly similar fashion, they have all blocked SMS systems, mobile phones and the internet, have banned all writers and taken dissidents to prisons.
Unfortunately, the interests of the ruling ideology in Iran do not allow the realities to be revealed as they are. The preachers of the obedient public outlets fail to pay any attention to the corrupt and despotic methods of the present day pharaoh of Egypt, who has created an explosive situation in his country by arrests, forced confessions, framing people and looting the nations through gangs and organised groups of the people surrounding them. They do refer to the ‘Wrath of the people” of Egypt, but they never explain that this day of wrath has come about as a consequence of inefficiency and corruption at the highest levels of stat, extravagance and wasting people’s funds, censorship, shutting people down, executions and lining up gallows to create fear in people. They never say that if the ruling system of Egypt had respected people’s right to determining their own destiny and had not tampered with people’s votes in the recent elections of Egypt, they would not have to face the demand for the ‘overthrow of the regime’ by the dear nation of Egypt. Perhaps, they do not realise that continuing policies of intimidation will eventually turn against itself and then the coming of “the day of wrath” and days of national wrath will be inevitable. Pharaohs usually hear the voice of the nation when it is too late.
Our nation deeply respects the glorious uprising of the brave people of Tunis and that of the people of Egypt, Yemen and other countries in quest for their rights. We commend the courageous, cognisant and resisting people of Egypt, Tunis, Jordan and Yemen and we pray to Allah that they may be successful and victorious in their struggle for their rights.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Egyptians Take to the Streets
After the end of Ben-Ali's corrupt regime in Tunisia, protesters in Egypt are targeting their own dictator Hosni Mubarak. In scenes that look like the mass protests in Iran, Egyptians have taken to the streets to change their regime.
Today in particular is an important day with plans for protests that could be much larger than those we have seen in recent days. This reminds me of two days in the Iranian peoples protests. June 15, 2009 was the Monday after the election and it saw millions of people take to the streets to demand their vote after Mousavi asked them to protest. On June 20, 2009 people took to the streets after protesting for the better part of the week. However, now the regime used the shear violence to kill and injure its own people. The Green Movement leaders seemed less willing to call for protests after that and the regime is still in power.
In Egypt, millions of people can come out and protest peacefully like on June 15 or the Egyptian regime can slaughter its own people. Whatever happens, the protests and sacrifice of the Iranian people is a guide for the rest of the region in its quest for freedom. Again the thugs in power in Iran and Egypt should know that their hold in power will soon be coming to an end.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Interview with Creators of Parazit
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Exclusive - Kambiz Hosseini & Saman Arbabi Extended Interview | ||||
| ||||
Kambiz Hosseini and Saman Arbabi created the satirical news show Parazit which is criticizes the regime through humor. Here is their interview on the Daily Show.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tunisians Fight Own Corrupt Regime
In scenes eerily similar to the uprising in Iran, protesters in Tunisia have taken to the streets against their own corrupt regime that uses violence to stay in Power. In a sign the protests are shaking the regime, the President has promised reforms and will not run again for reelection in 2014.
The tyrants in Iran and everywhere should take a look at these clips from Tunisia to realize that their grip on power will end. The people of Iran are brothers and sisters with those in Tunisia who are seeking their own freedom.
The tyrants in Iran and everywhere should take a look at these clips from Tunisia to realize that their grip on power will end. The people of Iran are brothers and sisters with those in Tunisia who are seeking their own freedom.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Mousavi Interview
Mousavi give a recent interview and this is what he says:
Q: In recent weeks, totalitarians have launched unprecedented propaganda against you and the Green Movement, but you were silent in face of these attacks and did not take any position. What is the reason behind this silence? The expectations of many companions of Green Movement were for you to respond to these attacks.
A: I was going to respond but after the letter of my dear brother – Mr.Karroubi - was published, I decided not to. His view sheds light on the reasons behind all these irritabilities. The other reason for my silence was the fact that these kinds of propaganda belong to the past. They use the same methods used in totalitarian regimes such as the Soviet Union during Stalin era, or Romania during Ceauşescu's time. Those, who organized these propaganda attacks, neither know our society nor have any understanding of the transformed international arena. They still live in the time before the development of communication technology.
Q: What is your assessment of the ten days of attacks launched against you and other figures of the Green Movement? How effective you think the propaganda of the totalitarians was?
A: For the same reasons I explained in the answer to the previous question these propaganda attacks not only were ineffective but due to their unfair content had reverse effect. These ten days have provided our nation with the opportunity to better understand the nature of these guys. All these lies and slanders showed the kind of Islam these fellows practice. It is not surprising we all know a Friday Prayer Imam (Ahmad Janati – the appointed hardliner chairman of the Guardian Council) that claimed the United States gave us one billion dollars in aid through Saudi Arabia and had given us the promise of fifty billions more after the victory [in toppling the government], and still this guy, despite this lie and false accusation, is holding his official post. Therefore these immoral propaganda attacks, which have been accompanied by swearing and threats, more than harming the growing Green Movement, prove the rightfulness and vitality of the Green Movement.
They cannot understand how people react to these kinds of claims when the person, who has killed a respected man over a bird, claims that a noble man like Mr. Khatami does not understand the Quran; or [when] in their websites call the former revolutionary prosecutor, who was trusted by Imam [Khomeini], a spy of Russia; or based on ridiculous accusations, call Ms. Rahnavard – a combatant Quran researcher – ally of the rejected Pahlavi family; or call me and him (Mehdi Karroubi) Freemasons quoting a deceased writer - who fled from people’s rage and escaped to Europe and died there! They have made Goebbels proud by misleading and lying, and have established falsely accusing others and lying part of their retrogressive and mixed with superstitions faith. However, there is another delicate point which results their cook up becomes so salty and that is the deep belief of part of the government in recognizing millions of people of this country as “dirt and dust” and “sheep and cow”. One of the reasons that make them bold enough to tell such big lies is this view they have toward the nation.
They still do not believe in people’s intelligence and unfortunately in their private they are terrified even from imagining citizens’ rights for all the people and innate dignity for all human.
Q: In Tehran's Mahdiyeh [convention center] (where a pro-government gathering was held) and in some other platforms, they called you, Mr.Karroubi and other figures of the Green Movement as "nobody"; what are your views about such remarks?
A: Actually this statement is completely true. Neither Mr. Karroubi nor I have ever said that we are "somebody". It is written, in the memoirs of Sheikh Abu Saeed Abolkheir (a renown scholar and philosopher who lived many years ago) that a scholar who was competing with Sheikh sent him a messenger with this message that "I am like an elephant and you are like a mosquito" and Sheikh replied "Tell him, I am nobody and that mosquito is also you". Of course we are not in the same level as Sheikh but based on his teaching, we also say that we are "nobody". But this cannot be a justification for you (addressing the government) to violate people's rights and disgrace the national covenant to this point.
Q: You reiterated a similar subject in your statement #17 (the Green Charter) which was issued in the aftermath of [the Bloody] Aashura events (December 2009). Do you still emphasize on the same demands?
A: Yes. In statement #17, I wrote: Ignore individuals like myself but take it upon yourself to free all political prisoners and announce that you adhere to all principles included in the Constitution; allow the media to operate freely, hold free and non-selective elections and you will see the horizon will become bright, for suppression will only further increase the level of demands. These kinds of deceitful and incompetent propaganda, which are being done simultaneously with the continuation of suppression and arrests, will have no outcome but making people discouraged from reforms within the constitution.
Q: The chairman of the Coalition Party (conservative) claimed that after the [tenth presidential] election, in a meeting with a delegation, you agreed with recounting some of the votes and later in meetings that you had with members of the Participation Front (reformist) and the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution (reformist) they convinced you to call off this previous agreement. Is this true?
A: Unfortunately the new chairman of the Coalition Party is not experienced enough. I deny this claim. In that meeting, the last remark I made was to accept "arbitration" (in which it was supposed to have representatives of all the presidential candidates as well as fair representatives of the judiciary and the Guardian Council meet and study the complaints to come up with a joint agreement). If they even review their memories, they will remember that I even brought up some names as examples for the fact finding committee. The worst part of his claim is the false accusation he has made against two recognized political parties of the country, while their main members are imprisoned.
However, in addition to him (the chairman of the Coalition Party), one of the ministers of Iran-Iraq war era (when Mir Hossein Mousavi was the Prime Minister), by referencing a western magazine, has repeatedly kept quoting a statement [claimed] to be mine. Because of his services to the country when he was the minister of health, I have waited untill now and have not said anything. I wonder when he claims to be a Muslim and despite all the documents, evidence, my speeches and statements, and even the discussion that I once had with him, how he can reference an American magazine and even go beyond that and judge my political background even in contradiction with his own previous views and statements; unless we think that he was pretending then!
Q: Considering that pressure and propaganda against the Green Movement have been increased in the recent months, how do you assess the status of the society and the Green Movement in these conditions?
A: Yes, the number of distortions, lies and threats has increased. Mass executions as well as odd and cruel sentences are also being used to intimidate. The spread of the culture of obtaining forced confessions and repentant-making, which has been transferred from the inside prisons to outside political atmosphere, is more important. Based on this culture, if you want to keep your position, or get elected, or have a share in big or small transactions, or live safe from the words and actions of hardliners, you must have enough wisdom and understanding to condemn the opposition and protestors in the Green Movement. They did not even pass on the seminary schools and the Grand Ayatollahs; and we are witnessing pressure, slanders and insults against the clerics and Grand Ayatollahs. They are unaware that even in the families of the authorities, the attention toward the demands raised by the Green Movement is increasing, since these demands are according to people's rights and our national covenant.
Our people don't have happy memories from forced confessions, repenter-making, hypocrisy, lies and slanders. These tricks became their own counters in the month of December. All these measures and actions show clearly that the Green Movement is progressing; and God willing and with the participation of all [companions], this trend will continue until all the demands outlined in the Green Movement are achieved. We believe: "The bubbles move aside and disappear but what is beneficial for the people remains."
Q: Although, this mass of slanders, libel, lies and deceptions will eventually unveil, but in any case one cannot ignore the massive government’s media propaganda that is funded with astronomical budgets. In your opinion, how can one overcome these kinds of divisive projects in the society and among families? How can the Green Movement be effective in order to compensate and decrease the various gaps that might grow day by day due to the incompetence and bad intensions of the totalitarians and save the national unity in face of the government divisive agenda?
A: In my opinion, promoting awareness should remain the main strategy and the same "Every citizen is a media" should be the main tactic. Today, simple tasks such as distributing newspapers, letters, statements as well as distributing photos and videos of post-election events and etc. has penetrated deep [in society] and has reached even the furthest corners [of the country]. The massive army of promoting awareness and spreading information has found the most effective methods to deliver the message of truth by its creativity and with simple equipments that the information age has given them.
But in addition to the efforts in promoting awareness and fighting with the spread of lies and falsification of the truth, we must not forget the memories of the friendly discussions of the [presidential] campaign days. We must not forget how - before the so-called security interventions turned the civil dialogue atmosphere to unrest and silenced the voice of discussion and dialogue - we were practicing and experiencing listening to each other's voices in the campaign discussions.
We must not forget the Green Chain that was uniting all of us - [despite] the differences and varieties - from the south to the north of the cities and the country, and was teaching us how to live together. These precious memories can also be valuable lessons and models for our today. Also today, by keeping the atmosphere of national dialogue and discussion alive as much as possible, we must practice tolerating and enduring each other, and listen to each other's views and opinions so that we can overcome the gaps created by the official media. For us being Green does not mean that we want to turn everyone into our color and into a single color, the same way the totalitarians and authoritarians prescribe their own color and view for everyone. Green is living side by side each other while understanding the differences, varieties in views, opinions and tastes. If the totalitarians and their propaganda try to highlight the gaps created in families and society, by accepting these differences, we must try to propose a prescription for peaceful living side by side each other. Promoting awareness peacefully is the most effective weapon against violence and the spread of division and ignorance seeds.
Q: In recent weeks, totalitarians have launched unprecedented propaganda against you and the Green Movement, but you were silent in face of these attacks and did not take any position. What is the reason behind this silence? The expectations of many companions of Green Movement were for you to respond to these attacks.
A: I was going to respond but after the letter of my dear brother – Mr.Karroubi - was published, I decided not to. His view sheds light on the reasons behind all these irritabilities. The other reason for my silence was the fact that these kinds of propaganda belong to the past. They use the same methods used in totalitarian regimes such as the Soviet Union during Stalin era, or Romania during Ceauşescu's time. Those, who organized these propaganda attacks, neither know our society nor have any understanding of the transformed international arena. They still live in the time before the development of communication technology.
Q: What is your assessment of the ten days of attacks launched against you and other figures of the Green Movement? How effective you think the propaganda of the totalitarians was?
A: For the same reasons I explained in the answer to the previous question these propaganda attacks not only were ineffective but due to their unfair content had reverse effect. These ten days have provided our nation with the opportunity to better understand the nature of these guys. All these lies and slanders showed the kind of Islam these fellows practice. It is not surprising we all know a Friday Prayer Imam (Ahmad Janati – the appointed hardliner chairman of the Guardian Council) that claimed the United States gave us one billion dollars in aid through Saudi Arabia and had given us the promise of fifty billions more after the victory [in toppling the government], and still this guy, despite this lie and false accusation, is holding his official post. Therefore these immoral propaganda attacks, which have been accompanied by swearing and threats, more than harming the growing Green Movement, prove the rightfulness and vitality of the Green Movement.
They cannot understand how people react to these kinds of claims when the person, who has killed a respected man over a bird, claims that a noble man like Mr. Khatami does not understand the Quran; or [when] in their websites call the former revolutionary prosecutor, who was trusted by Imam [Khomeini], a spy of Russia; or based on ridiculous accusations, call Ms. Rahnavard – a combatant Quran researcher – ally of the rejected Pahlavi family; or call me and him (Mehdi Karroubi) Freemasons quoting a deceased writer - who fled from people’s rage and escaped to Europe and died there! They have made Goebbels proud by misleading and lying, and have established falsely accusing others and lying part of their retrogressive and mixed with superstitions faith. However, there is another delicate point which results their cook up becomes so salty and that is the deep belief of part of the government in recognizing millions of people of this country as “dirt and dust” and “sheep and cow”. One of the reasons that make them bold enough to tell such big lies is this view they have toward the nation.
They still do not believe in people’s intelligence and unfortunately in their private they are terrified even from imagining citizens’ rights for all the people and innate dignity for all human.
Q: In Tehran's Mahdiyeh [convention center] (where a pro-government gathering was held) and in some other platforms, they called you, Mr.Karroubi and other figures of the Green Movement as "nobody"; what are your views about such remarks?
A: Actually this statement is completely true. Neither Mr. Karroubi nor I have ever said that we are "somebody". It is written, in the memoirs of Sheikh Abu Saeed Abolkheir (a renown scholar and philosopher who lived many years ago) that a scholar who was competing with Sheikh sent him a messenger with this message that "I am like an elephant and you are like a mosquito" and Sheikh replied "Tell him, I am nobody and that mosquito is also you". Of course we are not in the same level as Sheikh but based on his teaching, we also say that we are "nobody". But this cannot be a justification for you (addressing the government) to violate people's rights and disgrace the national covenant to this point.
Q: You reiterated a similar subject in your statement #17 (the Green Charter) which was issued in the aftermath of [the Bloody] Aashura events (December 2009). Do you still emphasize on the same demands?
A: Yes. In statement #17, I wrote: Ignore individuals like myself but take it upon yourself to free all political prisoners and announce that you adhere to all principles included in the Constitution; allow the media to operate freely, hold free and non-selective elections and you will see the horizon will become bright, for suppression will only further increase the level of demands. These kinds of deceitful and incompetent propaganda, which are being done simultaneously with the continuation of suppression and arrests, will have no outcome but making people discouraged from reforms within the constitution.
Q: The chairman of the Coalition Party (conservative) claimed that after the [tenth presidential] election, in a meeting with a delegation, you agreed with recounting some of the votes and later in meetings that you had with members of the Participation Front (reformist) and the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution (reformist) they convinced you to call off this previous agreement. Is this true?
A: Unfortunately the new chairman of the Coalition Party is not experienced enough. I deny this claim. In that meeting, the last remark I made was to accept "arbitration" (in which it was supposed to have representatives of all the presidential candidates as well as fair representatives of the judiciary and the Guardian Council meet and study the complaints to come up with a joint agreement). If they even review their memories, they will remember that I even brought up some names as examples for the fact finding committee. The worst part of his claim is the false accusation he has made against two recognized political parties of the country, while their main members are imprisoned.
However, in addition to him (the chairman of the Coalition Party), one of the ministers of Iran-Iraq war era (when Mir Hossein Mousavi was the Prime Minister), by referencing a western magazine, has repeatedly kept quoting a statement [claimed] to be mine. Because of his services to the country when he was the minister of health, I have waited untill now and have not said anything. I wonder when he claims to be a Muslim and despite all the documents, evidence, my speeches and statements, and even the discussion that I once had with him, how he can reference an American magazine and even go beyond that and judge my political background even in contradiction with his own previous views and statements; unless we think that he was pretending then!
Q: Considering that pressure and propaganda against the Green Movement have been increased in the recent months, how do you assess the status of the society and the Green Movement in these conditions?
A: Yes, the number of distortions, lies and threats has increased. Mass executions as well as odd and cruel sentences are also being used to intimidate. The spread of the culture of obtaining forced confessions and repentant-making, which has been transferred from the inside prisons to outside political atmosphere, is more important. Based on this culture, if you want to keep your position, or get elected, or have a share in big or small transactions, or live safe from the words and actions of hardliners, you must have enough wisdom and understanding to condemn the opposition and protestors in the Green Movement. They did not even pass on the seminary schools and the Grand Ayatollahs; and we are witnessing pressure, slanders and insults against the clerics and Grand Ayatollahs. They are unaware that even in the families of the authorities, the attention toward the demands raised by the Green Movement is increasing, since these demands are according to people's rights and our national covenant.
Our people don't have happy memories from forced confessions, repenter-making, hypocrisy, lies and slanders. These tricks became their own counters in the month of December. All these measures and actions show clearly that the Green Movement is progressing; and God willing and with the participation of all [companions], this trend will continue until all the demands outlined in the Green Movement are achieved. We believe: "The bubbles move aside and disappear but what is beneficial for the people remains."
Q: Although, this mass of slanders, libel, lies and deceptions will eventually unveil, but in any case one cannot ignore the massive government’s media propaganda that is funded with astronomical budgets. In your opinion, how can one overcome these kinds of divisive projects in the society and among families? How can the Green Movement be effective in order to compensate and decrease the various gaps that might grow day by day due to the incompetence and bad intensions of the totalitarians and save the national unity in face of the government divisive agenda?
A: In my opinion, promoting awareness should remain the main strategy and the same "Every citizen is a media" should be the main tactic. Today, simple tasks such as distributing newspapers, letters, statements as well as distributing photos and videos of post-election events and etc. has penetrated deep [in society] and has reached even the furthest corners [of the country]. The massive army of promoting awareness and spreading information has found the most effective methods to deliver the message of truth by its creativity and with simple equipments that the information age has given them.
But in addition to the efforts in promoting awareness and fighting with the spread of lies and falsification of the truth, we must not forget the memories of the friendly discussions of the [presidential] campaign days. We must not forget how - before the so-called security interventions turned the civil dialogue atmosphere to unrest and silenced the voice of discussion and dialogue - we were practicing and experiencing listening to each other's voices in the campaign discussions.
We must not forget the Green Chain that was uniting all of us - [despite] the differences and varieties - from the south to the north of the cities and the country, and was teaching us how to live together. These precious memories can also be valuable lessons and models for our today. Also today, by keeping the atmosphere of national dialogue and discussion alive as much as possible, we must practice tolerating and enduring each other, and listen to each other's views and opinions so that we can overcome the gaps created by the official media. For us being Green does not mean that we want to turn everyone into our color and into a single color, the same way the totalitarians and authoritarians prescribe their own color and view for everyone. Green is living side by side each other while understanding the differences, varieties in views, opinions and tastes. If the totalitarians and their propaganda try to highlight the gaps created in families and society, by accepting these differences, we must try to propose a prescription for peaceful living side by side each other. Promoting awareness peacefully is the most effective weapon against violence and the spread of division and ignorance seeds.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Part 20: A Decision
Regardless of what the actual vote totals were, the regime quickly declared Ahmadinejad the winner and the opposition was in a state of shock since they had sensed victory within their grasp. Yet shock soon turned to anger as the opposition would quickly see the irregularities shown above and many would soon view the election as completely fradulent. Given that this was the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic that an election had been widely viewed as illegitimate, no one knew what would happen next.
Spontaneous protests started the day after the election and would continue throughout the weekend in locations all over Iran. These protests were not organized direction, but simply represented an outpouring of anger about the results of the election and with the regime in general. People shouted in frustration the slogan “Where is my vote?” to express that their vote was stolen. The people who took to the streets were met by a paramilitary group within the IRGC that was supposed to keep internal order in the country known as the Basij. Scenes of clashes between protesters and Basij that emerged right after the election would continue to play out in months to come.
Two days after the election on June 14 at a rally organized to celebrate his victory, Ahmadinejad would dismiss the protesters as similar to a few disgruntled soccer fans. The opposition leaders faced a critical choice at this point given the intense feeling among their supporters and their own belief that the election was fraudulent. While all three losing candidates lodged formal complaints with the regime, it was almost certain that working within the confines of regime would get them nowhere. For the first time the liberal Islamists elite of the regime who had helped create and maintain the Islamic Republic would have to decide if they should challenge that regime on the streets.
In a meeting to figure out what to do after the election, Mousavi felt that he could not allow the results to stand, “the elections are people’s rights. I can’t give up people’s rights. I’m going to see this through and until this lie is cleared up”. At least for Mousavi, the conservatives had crossed the ultimate line and violated the basic principle enshrined in the constitution that the people’s vote would have a role in determining the government. Once this basic principle no longer applied, then he and the other reformists would have no incentive to work within the confines of the regime. Mousavi would call for a mass protest to be held on June 15, and there would be no turning back at this point.
Spontaneous protests started the day after the election and would continue throughout the weekend in locations all over Iran. These protests were not organized direction, but simply represented an outpouring of anger about the results of the election and with the regime in general. People shouted in frustration the slogan “Where is my vote?” to express that their vote was stolen. The people who took to the streets were met by a paramilitary group within the IRGC that was supposed to keep internal order in the country known as the Basij. Scenes of clashes between protesters and Basij that emerged right after the election would continue to play out in months to come.
Two days after the election on June 14 at a rally organized to celebrate his victory, Ahmadinejad would dismiss the protesters as similar to a few disgruntled soccer fans. The opposition leaders faced a critical choice at this point given the intense feeling among their supporters and their own belief that the election was fraudulent. While all three losing candidates lodged formal complaints with the regime, it was almost certain that working within the confines of regime would get them nowhere. For the first time the liberal Islamists elite of the regime who had helped create and maintain the Islamic Republic would have to decide if they should challenge that regime on the streets.
In a meeting to figure out what to do after the election, Mousavi felt that he could not allow the results to stand, “the elections are people’s rights. I can’t give up people’s rights. I’m going to see this through and until this lie is cleared up”. At least for Mousavi, the conservatives had crossed the ultimate line and violated the basic principle enshrined in the constitution that the people’s vote would have a role in determining the government. Once this basic principle no longer applied, then he and the other reformists would have no incentive to work within the confines of the regime. Mousavi would call for a mass protest to be held on June 15, and there would be no turning back at this point.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Rahimi Charged with Corruption
Although almost everyone in the regime is certainly guilty of corruption, the judiciary has decided for political reasons to go after Mohammad Reza Rahimi. Rahimi is the top Vice-President and a close ally of Ahmadinejad. It seems that going after him for corruption charges is a sort of revenge by the Larijani brothers for dismissal of Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
It seems that the conflict within the regime now is between Ahmadinejad and the Larijani borthers (Speaker of the Majlis Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Sadeq Larijani). Hopefully the conflict between these members of ther regime will allow an opportunity for the Green Movement to gain power in the chaos of regime in fighting. Here is more on the conflict:
Corruption charges against one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's most trusted political advisers provided the latest evidence of deep rifts within the Iranian president's own conservative political camp.
The challenge by Ahmadinejad's rivals — one of them the head of the judiciary — could set the tone for a bitter fight leading up to the next big political moment in Iran, parliamentary elections less than a year away.
"This case isn't going to bring down Ahmadinejad, but it may get very ugly," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a regional political analyst at Emirates University. "It's a commentary on the troubled state of Iranian politics at the moment."
Ahmadinejad has faced a growing internal backlash from conservative leaders — including influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani. They are upset by the president's combative nature and deepening links with the vast military-economic network run by the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful force which led the crackdown on the reformist movement after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election last year.
The political infighting escalated earlier this month when Ahmadinejad suddenly dismissed his longtime foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, a close ally of Larijani. Many lawmakers and others denounced the move as further evidence of Ahmadinejad's steamrolling style. He dumped Mottaki in apparent retaliation for disagreements that included control over foreign ministry posts.
Shortly after Mottaki's firing, the judiciary headed by Larijani's brother announced the corruption allegations against First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi.
The charges could do more damage to Ahmadinejad and the reputation he has cultivated as aloof from Iran's powerful financial clans and foundations, many run by the Revolutionary Guard.
The developments revealed the increasingly complex political maneuvering within the Islamic Republic as it struggles with economic sanctions and growing international pressure to curb its production of nuclear fuel.
The judiciary last week said Rahimi is facing corruption charges that need to be investigated and will have to stand trial. The details of the accusations against him have not been made public since. Rahimi quickly denied the charges and was expected to present his side at a news conference, possibly later this week.
On Monday, Ahmadinejad's office came to Rahimi's defense, saying that his complaints against the accusations should be investigated, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
But the rumblings have been coming for months against Rahimi, whose position as the top of 12 vice presidents gives him authority to meet visiting prime ministers and other dignitaries and lead Cabinet meetings in Ahmadinejad's absence.
Some of Ahmadinejad's political foes have frequently taken pot shots at Rahimi with allegations of financial misdeeds since a major government-linked embezzlement probe opened in April. At the time, conservative lawmaker Elias Naderan calling Rahimi the "leader of the corruption circle."
Now, a full-scale investigation and possible trial could become a high-stakes proxy clash between Ahmadinejad and Larijani and his backers, who include his brother, judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani.
The immediate battles may be sporadic because all of Iran's political establishment is currently engrossed in painful steps to trim government subsidies, which has already pushed fuel prices up to 400 percent higher.
The economic shock has brought waves of complaints against the government from all sides. Reformists have claimed the billions saved on subsidies will be funneled back to help boost Ahmadinejad and the Revolutionary Guard. Even some hard-liners — Ahmadinejad's political base — have said the price hikes are too fast and too steep.
The rifts point to the next big political test in Iran — parliamentary elections in early 2012. The races will mark the first major balloting since the accusations of vote-rigging after Ahmadinejad's June 2009 victory plunged Iran into its worst internal chaos since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
It's still uncertain whether the opposition movement can rebound in some form for the parliamentary campaign. But there's little doubt that Larijani and his allies will make a run.
A strong showing would have the twin effect of embarrassing Ahmadinejad and sending a message to the ruling clerics, who have the final word on the candidates for the 2013 presidential election to replace lame duck Ahmadinejad.
"It is unlikely the (Rahimi) dispute will have particular repercussions in the short term," said Hamid Reza Shokouhi, a political analyst in Tehran. "But its impact will be seen in the next parliamentary elections."
It does, however, show Ahmadinejad's shrinking political coterie.
"Supporters of Ahmadinejad are ... a limited group now," said Shokouhi.
But still a very formidable one.
Ahmadinejad continues to enjoy support from the two most potent forces in Iran: the Revolutionary Guard and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who controls the theocracy and its almost limitless powers.
This has been enough to intimidate Ahmadinejad's opponents from going too far. The lines, however, keep shifting in favor of bolder political challenges.
On Sunday, former foreign minister Mottaki was praised in a statement by 260 parliament members — all but 30 — in a direct slap against Ahmadinejad. Last month, dozens of lawmakers signed a petition seeking bring Ahmadinejad into the chamber for questioning over complaints including fiscal mismanagement.
The effort apparently sputtered before getting enough signatures, but it reinforced the sense that Ahmadinejad can be pressured openly without facing the wrath of the supreme leader.
"The fact that Rahimi is being attacked so publicly by conservatives — and even some hard-liners — suggests the political temperature is heating up," said Shadi Hamid, a researcher on Gulf affairs at The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar.
A showdown over Rahimi could also feed into the claims that Ahmadinejad is increasingly embattled and trying to surround himself with staunch loyalists.
Rahimi was appointed as one of Iran's 12 vice presidents in 2005 and rose to the top spot last year. He has taken part in sensitive political meetings, such as visits by Chinese officials.
Last summer, he called the U.S. dollar and euro "dirty" after Iran threatened to stop selling oil in the currencies to protest economic sanctions. He also called Australians "a bunch of cattlemen" and said South Korea "needed to be slapped" after both nations backed sanctions.
It seems that the conflict within the regime now is between Ahmadinejad and the Larijani borthers (Speaker of the Majlis Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Sadeq Larijani). Hopefully the conflict between these members of ther regime will allow an opportunity for the Green Movement to gain power in the chaos of regime in fighting. Here is more on the conflict:
Corruption charges against one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's most trusted political advisers provided the latest evidence of deep rifts within the Iranian president's own conservative political camp.
The challenge by Ahmadinejad's rivals — one of them the head of the judiciary — could set the tone for a bitter fight leading up to the next big political moment in Iran, parliamentary elections less than a year away.
"This case isn't going to bring down Ahmadinejad, but it may get very ugly," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a regional political analyst at Emirates University. "It's a commentary on the troubled state of Iranian politics at the moment."
Ahmadinejad has faced a growing internal backlash from conservative leaders — including influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani. They are upset by the president's combative nature and deepening links with the vast military-economic network run by the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful force which led the crackdown on the reformist movement after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election last year.
The political infighting escalated earlier this month when Ahmadinejad suddenly dismissed his longtime foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, a close ally of Larijani. Many lawmakers and others denounced the move as further evidence of Ahmadinejad's steamrolling style. He dumped Mottaki in apparent retaliation for disagreements that included control over foreign ministry posts.
Shortly after Mottaki's firing, the judiciary headed by Larijani's brother announced the corruption allegations against First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi.
The charges could do more damage to Ahmadinejad and the reputation he has cultivated as aloof from Iran's powerful financial clans and foundations, many run by the Revolutionary Guard.
The developments revealed the increasingly complex political maneuvering within the Islamic Republic as it struggles with economic sanctions and growing international pressure to curb its production of nuclear fuel.
The judiciary last week said Rahimi is facing corruption charges that need to be investigated and will have to stand trial. The details of the accusations against him have not been made public since. Rahimi quickly denied the charges and was expected to present his side at a news conference, possibly later this week.
On Monday, Ahmadinejad's office came to Rahimi's defense, saying that his complaints against the accusations should be investigated, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
But the rumblings have been coming for months against Rahimi, whose position as the top of 12 vice presidents gives him authority to meet visiting prime ministers and other dignitaries and lead Cabinet meetings in Ahmadinejad's absence.
Some of Ahmadinejad's political foes have frequently taken pot shots at Rahimi with allegations of financial misdeeds since a major government-linked embezzlement probe opened in April. At the time, conservative lawmaker Elias Naderan calling Rahimi the "leader of the corruption circle."
Now, a full-scale investigation and possible trial could become a high-stakes proxy clash between Ahmadinejad and Larijani and his backers, who include his brother, judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani.
The immediate battles may be sporadic because all of Iran's political establishment is currently engrossed in painful steps to trim government subsidies, which has already pushed fuel prices up to 400 percent higher.
The economic shock has brought waves of complaints against the government from all sides. Reformists have claimed the billions saved on subsidies will be funneled back to help boost Ahmadinejad and the Revolutionary Guard. Even some hard-liners — Ahmadinejad's political base — have said the price hikes are too fast and too steep.
The rifts point to the next big political test in Iran — parliamentary elections in early 2012. The races will mark the first major balloting since the accusations of vote-rigging after Ahmadinejad's June 2009 victory plunged Iran into its worst internal chaos since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
It's still uncertain whether the opposition movement can rebound in some form for the parliamentary campaign. But there's little doubt that Larijani and his allies will make a run.
A strong showing would have the twin effect of embarrassing Ahmadinejad and sending a message to the ruling clerics, who have the final word on the candidates for the 2013 presidential election to replace lame duck Ahmadinejad.
"It is unlikely the (Rahimi) dispute will have particular repercussions in the short term," said Hamid Reza Shokouhi, a political analyst in Tehran. "But its impact will be seen in the next parliamentary elections."
It does, however, show Ahmadinejad's shrinking political coterie.
"Supporters of Ahmadinejad are ... a limited group now," said Shokouhi.
But still a very formidable one.
Ahmadinejad continues to enjoy support from the two most potent forces in Iran: the Revolutionary Guard and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who controls the theocracy and its almost limitless powers.
This has been enough to intimidate Ahmadinejad's opponents from going too far. The lines, however, keep shifting in favor of bolder political challenges.
On Sunday, former foreign minister Mottaki was praised in a statement by 260 parliament members — all but 30 — in a direct slap against Ahmadinejad. Last month, dozens of lawmakers signed a petition seeking bring Ahmadinejad into the chamber for questioning over complaints including fiscal mismanagement.
The effort apparently sputtered before getting enough signatures, but it reinforced the sense that Ahmadinejad can be pressured openly without facing the wrath of the supreme leader.
"The fact that Rahimi is being attacked so publicly by conservatives — and even some hard-liners — suggests the political temperature is heating up," said Shadi Hamid, a researcher on Gulf affairs at The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar.
A showdown over Rahimi could also feed into the claims that Ahmadinejad is increasingly embattled and trying to surround himself with staunch loyalists.
Rahimi was appointed as one of Iran's 12 vice presidents in 2005 and rose to the top spot last year. He has taken part in sensitive political meetings, such as visits by Chinese officials.
Last summer, he called the U.S. dollar and euro "dirty" after Iran threatened to stop selling oil in the currencies to protest economic sanctions. He also called Australians "a bunch of cattlemen" and said South Korea "needed to be slapped" after both nations backed sanctions.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Mousavi and Karroubi Hold Meeting
In their latest meeting, the two discuss the following:
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi held a joint meeting. At the beginning of this meeting which was held in Mehdi Karroubi’s residence, Karroubi and Mousavi while expressing sadness and sorrow regarding the terrorist attacks which occurred last week on Tasooa (Shia religious festival) in the city of Chabahar and resulted in martyrdom of few worshipers and injuring many others, offered their deepest condolences for the families of the victims. Mousavi and Karroubi strongly condemned this terrorist attack and stressed: “The enemies of our nation must not assume that the unity and solidarity of Muslims is jeopardized by these kinds of terrorist attacks.”
Also in this meeting Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi agreed that general plan for regulating government subsides is a plan that has been discussed internationally as a “fundamental and main economic move” but demanded that its implementation be based on “experts’ research” and without any “hype”.
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi expressed deep concern regarding the implementation of the plan to cut subsidies on fuel and basic life necessities given the current weak economy and added: “The implementation of this plan while the country is facing harsh international sanctions, the economy is in recession, unemployment is more than 30% and has spread across the country in most of the provinces, and the inflation is out of control, is a burden that its pressure will be felt by lower income and middle class layers of the society.”
Both parties emphasized: “On one hand the shutdown of factories, their inability to pay the salaries of their workers and the unemployment of workers and on the other hand losing investments due to lack of investment security in the country as well as lack of healthy competition in economy and privatization all forecast a dark future in country’s economy. This situation worsens when there is no will in the government to listen to the opinion of outstanding experts and critics. There must be an environment in the country that economy experts would be able to express their views without hesitation, instead of being confronted.”
In this meeting Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi once again expressed deep sorrow and concern regarding the dire condition of political prisoners and the made-up and unjust issued sentences against them based on the “fabricated” accusations such as “acting against national security” and added: “ The courts have issued heavy sentences against these political prisoners whom unfortunately are from the wide range of layers of society such as artist, teacher, lawyer, student, university professor, cleric, journalist and etc.; and on the other hand there have been inhuman and far from morality treatments against [political prisoners] in prisons, which leaves these political prisoners no other option but to go on hunger strike in order to protest to these actions. Here we urge the political prisoners to end their hunger strike in order to save their lives and assure them that the final victory belongs to them and to the people.”
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi also by reviewing the foreign policy situation of the country in the international arena expressed surprise regarding the non-diplomatic actions of the administration and added: “The foreign policy has become so ridiculous that the appointed foreign minister should hear his dismissal from the president of Senegal [during a diplomatic trip]! These kinds of actions have no outcome but humiliating the country’s reputation in international arena and demonstrate the childish behaviors based on retaliation. These actions have no result but discrediting the country in eyes of international community even more than before. Unfortunately after this humiliating event now both sides of the story are accusing each other of lying, while lying is the key of all sins!”
At the end of this meeting both parties called the “bullying” and “intimidating” remarks and actions of some individuals affiliated with the totalitarian circle, “far from rational” and emphasized: “To this day we are standing firm on the path we have chosen and also in the future we will not retrieve from this path which is nothing but to defend the rightful demands of the people; and we have no fear from threats, insults and false accusations. For us there is no difference between this big prison that holds us to the smaller prison that unjustly holds the other political prisoners. We are hopeful that one day the true “conspirators” would be held accountable for their actions in front of the nation.”
.
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi held a joint meeting. At the beginning of this meeting which was held in Mehdi Karroubi’s residence, Karroubi and Mousavi while expressing sadness and sorrow regarding the terrorist attacks which occurred last week on Tasooa (Shia religious festival) in the city of Chabahar and resulted in martyrdom of few worshipers and injuring many others, offered their deepest condolences for the families of the victims. Mousavi and Karroubi strongly condemned this terrorist attack and stressed: “The enemies of our nation must not assume that the unity and solidarity of Muslims is jeopardized by these kinds of terrorist attacks.”
Also in this meeting Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi agreed that general plan for regulating government subsides is a plan that has been discussed internationally as a “fundamental and main economic move” but demanded that its implementation be based on “experts’ research” and without any “hype”.
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi expressed deep concern regarding the implementation of the plan to cut subsidies on fuel and basic life necessities given the current weak economy and added: “The implementation of this plan while the country is facing harsh international sanctions, the economy is in recession, unemployment is more than 30% and has spread across the country in most of the provinces, and the inflation is out of control, is a burden that its pressure will be felt by lower income and middle class layers of the society.”
Both parties emphasized: “On one hand the shutdown of factories, their inability to pay the salaries of their workers and the unemployment of workers and on the other hand losing investments due to lack of investment security in the country as well as lack of healthy competition in economy and privatization all forecast a dark future in country’s economy. This situation worsens when there is no will in the government to listen to the opinion of outstanding experts and critics. There must be an environment in the country that economy experts would be able to express their views without hesitation, instead of being confronted.”
In this meeting Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi once again expressed deep sorrow and concern regarding the dire condition of political prisoners and the made-up and unjust issued sentences against them based on the “fabricated” accusations such as “acting against national security” and added: “ The courts have issued heavy sentences against these political prisoners whom unfortunately are from the wide range of layers of society such as artist, teacher, lawyer, student, university professor, cleric, journalist and etc.; and on the other hand there have been inhuman and far from morality treatments against [political prisoners] in prisons, which leaves these political prisoners no other option but to go on hunger strike in order to protest to these actions. Here we urge the political prisoners to end their hunger strike in order to save their lives and assure them that the final victory belongs to them and to the people.”
Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi also by reviewing the foreign policy situation of the country in the international arena expressed surprise regarding the non-diplomatic actions of the administration and added: “The foreign policy has become so ridiculous that the appointed foreign minister should hear his dismissal from the president of Senegal [during a diplomatic trip]! These kinds of actions have no outcome but humiliating the country’s reputation in international arena and demonstrate the childish behaviors based on retaliation. These actions have no result but discrediting the country in eyes of international community even more than before. Unfortunately after this humiliating event now both sides of the story are accusing each other of lying, while lying is the key of all sins!”
At the end of this meeting both parties called the “bullying” and “intimidating” remarks and actions of some individuals affiliated with the totalitarian circle, “far from rational” and emphasized: “To this day we are standing firm on the path we have chosen and also in the future we will not retrieve from this path which is nothing but to defend the rightful demands of the people; and we have no fear from threats, insults and false accusations. For us there is no difference between this big prison that holds us to the smaller prison that unjustly holds the other political prisoners. We are hopeful that one day the true “conspirators” would be held accountable for their actions in front of the nation.”
.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Jafar Panahi Sentenced and Banned from Making Films
Sadly acclaimed film Director Jafar Panahi was sentenced today to 6 years in prison and banned from making films for 20 years. Panahi has made such highly renowned films such as White Balloon and The Circle. Panahi is a stronger support of the Green Movement and has been a strong critic of the horrible actions of the regime.
Panahi is one of Iran's greatest artists whose movies rival the best directors from all around. The fact that the regime is going after him not only shows how desperate they have become, but also how they are willing to damage all aspects of Iranian life. The regime wants to control Iranian culture and destroy it to keep their corrupt hold on power. They have tried to silence a great director, but they will ultimately not succeed.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Security Presence Rise as Subsidies Fall
As the regime is forced to cut fuel subsidies due to its own economic incompetence and internation sanctions, the security presence rises to supress any unrest:
Security forces flooded Iran's capital in a warning against possible unrest as fuel prices surged 400 percent Sunday under plans to sharply cut government subsides and ease pressure on an economy struggling with international sanctions.
The so-called economic "surgery" has been planned for months, but was repeatedly delayed over worries of a repeat of gas riots in 2007 and serious political infighting during the standoff with the West over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
But the timing for the first painful steps — just after a first round of nuclear talks with international powers and a second planned for early next year — suggests one of the world's leading oil producers is feeling the sting of tightened sanctions. And it might open more room for possible compromises with world powers, including the United States, in exchange for easing the economic squeeze.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iranians in a nationally televised speech Saturday that it was finally time to begin trimming the state subsidies that lowered the costs of bread and cooking oil and gave Iran some of the cheapest fuel pump prices in the world. He also noted that he saw "positive points" in talks earlier this month with six nations that hold important sway over sanctions: the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.
"Iran's top leadership is puzzled about the tightening sanctions and their long-term implications on Iran's economy. Ahmadinejad has labeled those sanctions a joke, but the Iranian people are not laughing," said Ehsan Ahrari, an analyst based in Alexandria, Virginia.
The overnight price rises — gas rising fourfold in some cases — follows upheaval in the heart of Ahmadinejad's government. Last week, he abruptly dismissed longtime foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, while he was on a diplomatic mission to Africa in favor of interim replacement, nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi.
The move sends a message that Iran's leadership had tired of Mottaki's challenges to Ahmadinejad and sought a more unified government at a critical time. In his first public comment, Mottaki on Sunday called his blindside firing "un-Islamic, undiplomatic and offensive," according to the semiofficial Mehr news agency.
In Tehran, meanwhile, riot police took up posts around the major intersections as the subsidy cuts took effect. There were loud complaints by consumers, but no signs of the violence in 2007, when the government imposed limits on the purchase of subsidized gasoline.
Under the new system, each personal car receives 60 liters (16 gallons) of subsidized fuel a month costing 40 cents a liter ($1.50 a gallon) — up from the just 10 cents a liter. Further purchases of gas would run 70 cents a liter ($2.69 a gallon), up from just 40 cents.
Tehran says it is paying some $100 billion in subsidies annually, although experts believe the amount is far lower, closer to $30 billion. Iran had planned to slash subsidies before the latest round of sanctions took effect — Ahmadinejad and his allies have long insisted the country's oil-based economy could no longer afford the largesse.
But the latest rounds of sanctions have targeted the core of Iran's economy. Some top European and Asian companies have pulled out of the Iranian market. American embargoes also seek to block the import of pump-ready fuel to Iran — a weak point in a country with vast oil riches but a shortfall in refineries.
Angry taxi drivers complained as the price of fuel rose fourfold overnight.
"I don't know what to do," said one frustrated cab driver, who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution by authorities. "I am not allowed to increase price of my service while I am paying five times more than yesterday."
A truck driver, Mansour Abbasi, said he paid 10 times more on Sunday for natural gas to fuel his vehicle — and complained he could not compensate by hiking his own transport fees.
"If I raise my prices, people will not be able to afford it. Or they may report me," said Abbasi, 43.
Despite the grumbling, there were no reports of clashes in Tehran or other major cities such as Tabriz, Kermanshah, Bandar Abbas, Kerman and Ahvaz. One resident of Ahvaz said some taxi fares doubled.
Economists say the unpopular plan to slash subsidies could stoke inflation already estimated to be more than 20 percent.
One lawmaker said he had expected the extent of price rises overnight to happen gradually over five years.
"I am surprised. We do not know what happened," the lawmaker told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. "The price of fuel was supposed to reach about international prices within the next five years and not this year."
Ahmadinejad also said his government was paying $4 billion in bread subsidies, which will also gradually be phased out.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh, a Tehran University professor of politics, said it was too soon to gauge the public reaction to the cuts, and popular unrest could still erupt.
"We have to wait and see how inflation will affect their lives," he told AP.
Opposition websites reported an economic analyst, Fariborz Raeis Dana, was detained after claiming the subsidy cuts were intended to allow Islamic leaders to spend more money on the military and security forces. The reports could not be independently confirmed.
After Ahmadinejad announced the cuts Saturday night — calling it the "biggest surgery" on Iran's economy in 50 years — long lines of cars formed at gas stations in Tehran as Iranians rushed to fill their tanks at subsidized prices before the new ones took effect at midnight. By Sunday, the lines were gone.
Economic analyst Saeed Laylaz said the cuts were in theory a positive move since they would reduce energy consumption, which is currently costing the country a quarter of its Gross National Product.
"However it is being implemented in an incomplete fashion because it's not accompanied by a greater liberalization of the economy," he said, adding that the cuts would probably not have much positive effect.
The government says it will return part of the money obtained from increased prices to the people through cash payments. It has already paid into accounts of some 20 million families as compensation ahead of the cuts.
Every family member will now receive $80 for to help them over the next two months.
Security forces flooded Iran's capital in a warning against possible unrest as fuel prices surged 400 percent Sunday under plans to sharply cut government subsides and ease pressure on an economy struggling with international sanctions.
The so-called economic "surgery" has been planned for months, but was repeatedly delayed over worries of a repeat of gas riots in 2007 and serious political infighting during the standoff with the West over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
But the timing for the first painful steps — just after a first round of nuclear talks with international powers and a second planned for early next year — suggests one of the world's leading oil producers is feeling the sting of tightened sanctions. And it might open more room for possible compromises with world powers, including the United States, in exchange for easing the economic squeeze.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iranians in a nationally televised speech Saturday that it was finally time to begin trimming the state subsidies that lowered the costs of bread and cooking oil and gave Iran some of the cheapest fuel pump prices in the world. He also noted that he saw "positive points" in talks earlier this month with six nations that hold important sway over sanctions: the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.
"Iran's top leadership is puzzled about the tightening sanctions and their long-term implications on Iran's economy. Ahmadinejad has labeled those sanctions a joke, but the Iranian people are not laughing," said Ehsan Ahrari, an analyst based in Alexandria, Virginia.
The overnight price rises — gas rising fourfold in some cases — follows upheaval in the heart of Ahmadinejad's government. Last week, he abruptly dismissed longtime foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, while he was on a diplomatic mission to Africa in favor of interim replacement, nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi.
The move sends a message that Iran's leadership had tired of Mottaki's challenges to Ahmadinejad and sought a more unified government at a critical time. In his first public comment, Mottaki on Sunday called his blindside firing "un-Islamic, undiplomatic and offensive," according to the semiofficial Mehr news agency.
In Tehran, meanwhile, riot police took up posts around the major intersections as the subsidy cuts took effect. There were loud complaints by consumers, but no signs of the violence in 2007, when the government imposed limits on the purchase of subsidized gasoline.
Under the new system, each personal car receives 60 liters (16 gallons) of subsidized fuel a month costing 40 cents a liter ($1.50 a gallon) — up from the just 10 cents a liter. Further purchases of gas would run 70 cents a liter ($2.69 a gallon), up from just 40 cents.
Tehran says it is paying some $100 billion in subsidies annually, although experts believe the amount is far lower, closer to $30 billion. Iran had planned to slash subsidies before the latest round of sanctions took effect — Ahmadinejad and his allies have long insisted the country's oil-based economy could no longer afford the largesse.
But the latest rounds of sanctions have targeted the core of Iran's economy. Some top European and Asian companies have pulled out of the Iranian market. American embargoes also seek to block the import of pump-ready fuel to Iran — a weak point in a country with vast oil riches but a shortfall in refineries.
Angry taxi drivers complained as the price of fuel rose fourfold overnight.
"I don't know what to do," said one frustrated cab driver, who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution by authorities. "I am not allowed to increase price of my service while I am paying five times more than yesterday."
A truck driver, Mansour Abbasi, said he paid 10 times more on Sunday for natural gas to fuel his vehicle — and complained he could not compensate by hiking his own transport fees.
"If I raise my prices, people will not be able to afford it. Or they may report me," said Abbasi, 43.
Despite the grumbling, there were no reports of clashes in Tehran or other major cities such as Tabriz, Kermanshah, Bandar Abbas, Kerman and Ahvaz. One resident of Ahvaz said some taxi fares doubled.
Economists say the unpopular plan to slash subsidies could stoke inflation already estimated to be more than 20 percent.
One lawmaker said he had expected the extent of price rises overnight to happen gradually over five years.
"I am surprised. We do not know what happened," the lawmaker told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. "The price of fuel was supposed to reach about international prices within the next five years and not this year."
Ahmadinejad also said his government was paying $4 billion in bread subsidies, which will also gradually be phased out.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh, a Tehran University professor of politics, said it was too soon to gauge the public reaction to the cuts, and popular unrest could still erupt.
"We have to wait and see how inflation will affect their lives," he told AP.
Opposition websites reported an economic analyst, Fariborz Raeis Dana, was detained after claiming the subsidy cuts were intended to allow Islamic leaders to spend more money on the military and security forces. The reports could not be independently confirmed.
After Ahmadinejad announced the cuts Saturday night — calling it the "biggest surgery" on Iran's economy in 50 years — long lines of cars formed at gas stations in Tehran as Iranians rushed to fill their tanks at subsidized prices before the new ones took effect at midnight. By Sunday, the lines were gone.
Economic analyst Saeed Laylaz said the cuts were in theory a positive move since they would reduce energy consumption, which is currently costing the country a quarter of its Gross National Product.
"However it is being implemented in an incomplete fashion because it's not accompanied by a greater liberalization of the economy," he said, adding that the cuts would probably not have much positive effect.
The government says it will return part of the money obtained from increased prices to the people through cash payments. It has already paid into accounts of some 20 million families as compensation ahead of the cuts.
Every family member will now receive $80 for to help them over the next two months.
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