Behrooz Behbudi, Founder of The Centre for a Democratic Iran: "Iran's Khamenei Needs to Put His Money Where His Mouth Is"
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
In a speech last week to commemorate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei defended Iranian nuclear negotiators for "making efforts to secure the removal of hostile international sanctions against Tehran" during their discussions with world powers. The Centre for a Democratic Iran, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and pursue an independent, peaceful and democratic Iran, followed these events with great interest. "In order to reach a nuclear accord with the P5+1, the Islamic Republic has currently suspended 20-percent uranium enrichment as well as the development of centrifuges and nuclear facilities in Arak and Fordo sites," said Khamenei, adding that Tehran has acted "logically" in the course of the negotiations.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141107/714404 )
Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh quickly tried to elaborate on Khamenei's comments by saying that "the Leader's speech entailed positive effects for national interests and the other party also received the message."
"The other party" also quickly responded when President Obama made a statement that "has some scratching their heads," according to Washington Examiner. According to President Obama, the world need not be concerned about Iran developing a nuclear bomb because, in his view, it's "contrary" to Islam.
"We are presenting to them a deal that allows them to have peaceful nuclear power but gives us the absolute assurance that is verifiable that they are not pursuing a nuclear weapon," Obama said.
Centre for a Democratic Iran Founder, Behrooz Behbudi, offers his thoughts on the situation:
It goes without saying that Iran's nuclear program has always been the realm of the Khamenei-Revolutionary Guard alliance and the country's presidents and diplomats have little or no power to divert from its aims and limits while engaged in negotiations with world power.
"In all our nuclear talks with the 5+1 countries we only observe and follow the instructions of our Great Leader," Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister told the Fars news agency earlier this week.
With such absolute power on an issue that has effectively kept the Iranian people in captivity for nearly two decades, however, Khamenei has so far escaped from being accountable for the untold economic and social calamities that Iran's nuclear crisis has brought upon the nation and led to the country's isolation in the international community.
Reading between the lines of what Ayatollah Khamenei and President Obama have said, and all going according to the mostly behind closed-doors agreements between the negotiation parties, we can expect a deal on Iran's nuclear program to be announced by the extended deadline of 30 June 2015.
While for Khamenei the removal of all the devastating international sanctions will be a "victory" for the Islamic republic, world powers, led by the US, will be content that the agreement will stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb by creating a one year time gap between its reduced nuclear activities and reaching a "breakout capability".
However, with the absolute power of Khamenei within the dictatorial system of Velayate Faghih (Islamic government) that rules the Iran of today, even a "final deal" on the nuclear issue that President Obama is so badly pursuing, there is no guarantee that it would last, given that the regime's nuclear program has always been a part of its foreign policy with little say by the Iranian people about it.
As I have previously said, world powers need to make certain that any such deal, once agreed, will also be signed by Khamenei and commanders of the Revolutionary Guard to hold them to account. It is only then that these true holders of power in Iran can demonstrate their commitment to peace in the Middle East and prosperity for the Iranian people.
If they refuse to do this, in pursuing democracy and human rights for our country, the Centre for a Democratic Iran along with other progressive and secular Iranian groups are willing to even sponsor a referendum on this issue under the auspices of international observers to once for all end this crisis that has almost destroyed Iran and threatens the world peace.
Contact
SOURCE www.bbehbudi.net
Share this article