Thursday
Dec312009
Iran: The Rafsanjani Interview on France 24 (28 December)
Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 10:27
We've decided to post the video of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani's interview with France 24 on Monday night. There is little in the discussion on Iran's internal situation, presumably because Rafsanjani insisted that the subject not be raised, but readers can analyse Rafsanjani's presentation of Iran's international position and its relations with other countries, including the discussions over Iran's nuclear programme.
Part 1 of 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgyQwiqTT3Q&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Part 2 of 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhzTG-1AJtE&feature=related[/youtube]
The Latest from Iran (31 December): Is That All There Is?
Part 1 of 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgyQwiqTT3Q&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Part 2 of 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhzTG-1AJtE&feature=related[/youtube]
Reader Comments (9)
Bla bla bla
He says nothing but very conventional. He is an expert of "langue de bois".
And the interviewer is a calamity.
His body language says more than his words. He twitches when he is saying something he does not mean or that he is uneasy about. He is obviously worried that Iran will be attacked if Ahmadi goes on in the present vein.
He is useless. Iranians referred to him as Raft Sanjani (gone Sanjani) last August. It seems they were on the mark with their assessment.
The more you have the more you stand to lose and consequently the more morally bankrupted you become.
Megan
I respectfully disagree. I`m not a fan of Rafs, but I think he could be useful in this crisis. This fight in not only people vs Sepah, but also Rafs vs Sepah. This fight has been going on behind the scenes since AN was elected in 2005, Rafs never accepted that he lost back then. During this election they started airing their dirty laundry. The struggle between Rafs and Sepah will enter a final stage at some point, then I believe Rafs will strike back hard, he is still the richest man in Iran, he is close with Mohsen Rezai whose got allies within Sepah. We`ll just have to wait and see
Shangool,
I very much hope I am wrong. I desperately want to believe you because people in Iran need help badly.
I did not sleep last night and was listening to live report from Tehran on Epersian radio. Volunteer reporters were calling sporadically from streets of Tehran. They all sounded somewhat demoralized seeing armored vehicles in streets of Tehran. One of the female reporter has not checked in the past two days and her fate is unknown. Even the one young guy who is always upbeat had a sense of resignation in his voice as if Tehran had been invaded by enemy.
If you go on Peyke Iran and read the comment sections, the mood is very gray and not the usual defiance. So I want to be wrong, very wrong this time. But realistically I do not see this regime leaving the scene on its own. They have to be removed by force. I just do see people with empty hands as that force. So then from where or whom that force will come?
Happy New Year. Enjoy this video with happier images of Tehran: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmVvKRm9JdU&feature=related
Enjoyed the candor. He is a big player in this game of chess. Hedged specifics when he felt he needed to. He along with the rest of the clerics have gotten rich at the expense of the people. A very astute politician talking a lot but saying little. Felt his comments regarding a military attack from the West against Iran were a little naive. Just a lot of pablum for the masses.
Oxford Girl,
Follow you on Twitter. Your insights are refreshing as is your analysis of his body language.
Rafsanjani understandably did not comment on domestic situation to a foreign journalist.
Norman, you remind me of the little kids in a famous star trek episode ("Miri") chanting about the "gr'umps.
Rafsanjani has been anything but "blah blah blah". His interview with Mehr -- as posted to his own web site (and translated by osc/bbc) is extraordinary and telling, expanding upon his views of the solution going forward -- same as the themes he laid out in the one sermon he gave after the elections, and then continued in December talk in Mashhad. (precisely what has led to such a furious set of attacks on him from hard-line quarters, ranging from Ayt Yazdi to Hamid Rowhani)
Ah, but kids in Tehrangeles and Bethesda can stop up their ears and get back to chanting.
Escot,
Where are you located?
I wonder if you read my comment and reply to you in a previous thread and I wonder if you listened to the audio file I included. Here is the link: http://enduringamerica.com/2009/12/28/iran-ashuras-message-iranians-are-not-punching-bags-josh-shahryar/#comments
With regard to Raf. Iranians living in Iran (not those living outside Iran) by large do not have a favorable view of him. I do not know the man in person. I only judge him based on his action and inaction since June 2009. And based on my observations he is a politician, opportunist, and one who blows with the wind to protect his own self interest. Whether that is good or bad is up to each person to render his/her own judgment.
Incidentally, it is not Tehrangeles. Locals call it Irangeles