Comments on: The Latest from Iran (17 July): Compromise or Challenge?

By: Iran « Don’t Try So Hard

Iran « Don’t Try So Hard — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:56:03 +0000

[...] July 17th, 2009 [...]

By: whereismyvote

whereismyvote — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:06:26 +0000

Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai pick is a clear attempt by the Ahmadinejad administration to move to show a soft side to the USA and pro Israel lobby. The holocost denying president is looking for allies as his traditional allies at home are abandoning him. He is hoping for support from USA and Israel at his hour of need. In addition it is a play to show that his second administration will be more inclusive.

The response to this pick by Israel and US should be watched carefully. Let us not forget Obama’s words that this crisis is Iran’s and its peoples to solve.

Lets see if the US will abandon the Iranian people yet again, or stay the course and out of Iranian politics. In the past it has repeatedly abandoned and hurt the people throughout history.

By: A.

A. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:20:08 +0000

“[... ]Reformist websites estimated that more than 1 million people participated, and even indignant supporters of the hard-line camp at the prayer session to show support for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei acknowledged the crowds were unprecedented. [...]”

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-prayer18-2009jul18,0,6890660.story

This would mean that today’s crowds are the largest since the first days after the election.

By: Mani

Mani — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:15:29 +0000

If anyone would like a Persian transcript of Rafsanjani’s speech it is at the following website

http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2009/07/090862.php

http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2009/07/090866.php

and this is a relatively decent translation

http://shooresh1917.blogspot.com/2009/07/live-blogging-from-tehran.html

By: m.

m. — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:35:36 +0000

Scot,
“Despite the interest, however, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is apparently not carrying the service live. If true, this might be a first for state media.” Concerning this argument I should say that Friday prayer ceremonies are not always broadcasted live, so it is not the first.
I don’t know why but I decided not to listen to his speach today but I regret it now :( I’m reading through the transcripts of the speech.

By: Azar

Azar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:40:20 +0000

“We are not the people of Kufeh that abandoned Hossein” is a clever play on a chant associated with Basij and other various backers of Khamenei (they usually chant it in Friday prayers): “we are not the people of Kufeh that abandoned Ali.” Ali is both the name of the first Shia imam and Khamenei’s first name. (According to Shia tradition Ali too was betrayed by the people of Kufeh.)

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:28:41 +0000

Amy, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The speech was not the point. The point is that he gave Mousavi, Khatami, Karroubi, and all of the demonstrators a forum and opportunity to unite and demonstrate.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:30:40 +0000

Rafsanjani, comment 2… After watching some of the videos I get the feeling that it doesn’t much matter what was in the speech. It provided cover for people to come together in numbers the regime can’t supress without an all-out attack.

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:20:52 +0000

Rafsanjani… not altogether satisfying but much as you predicted. On the plus side, while he called for reconciliation, he clearly indicated the govt needs to do the reconciling, as opposed to saying that both sides have reparations to make. Also notable: apparently the govt claims of foreign intervention weren’t even worth acknowledging as part of the discussion.

By: M.R

M.R — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:14:27 +0000

This is in front of Tehran University Gates where Friday’s Prayer takes place. People are saying (0:15 sec) ‘ We are not Kufean ( refering to the Shia’a historical event where the people of Kufa in Iraq left Imam Ali and Imam Hussain (as) in their battles ) So Hussain ( Mir Hussain Musavi) stays with no companion”.
On the 0:45 sec they are chanting ‘Russia Shame on you, Leave my country alone’

By: ChrisE

ChrisE — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:12:05 +0000

Coverage in Iran was limited to FM radio. Bit late now but it could be watched on HotBird satellite. Channel called FEED in IRIB bouquet. 12.437 Horizontal 27500 Symbol Rate, FEC 3/4.

Interesting that no live broadcasting on Iranian networks.

By: Edward Yeranian

Edward Yeranian — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:13:20 +0000

It looks like none of the Iranian TV networks are covering Rafsandjani’s sermon. That’s really annoying, because I can’t do a story if I don’t have sound :((((
It’s tough to believe that they can have a black out on something like that. All the Iranian TV seems to be broadcasting are images of Ahmedinejad in Mashhad, yesterday, and they appear to be using old video footage of the crowds, too.
Edward