[Transcript]  Mosaic News - 6/19/09: World News From The Middle East

Presenter, Woman #1
The people have voted for the president of their choice. These were the frank words of the Iranian supreme leader, Aytolah Ali Khameini during the Friday Sermon in Tehran. Khameini called for calm and demanded that the demonstrations in the streets end. Hel also called on those with grievances to resolve their issues through legal means. Meanwhile, the Guardian Council will meet tomorrow with the presidential candidates who appealed the election results, particularly with Mir Hossein Mousavi. More details with Abdel Qader Faiz.

Reporter, Man # 1
Perhaps this is the only place that has both reformers and conservatives sitting together, away from demonstrations and political slogans. The religious mentor of the Islamic revolution is giving a speech for the first time since the election crisis began one week ago. What the religious mentor says here is not merely an opinion; it is rather a vision for getting out of the crisis. Khamenei summed up what he wants in three points: the election race has ended, the people have voted for the president of their choosing, and protests in the streets will not lead to anything.


Guest, Man # 2 (Khamenei)
Some are talking about election fraud, but how can 11 million votes be fraudulent. I will not accept anything outside the law. Why are some going to the streets? This is wrong; and I demand everyone to end the demonstrations. Otherwise everyone will be responsible for the chaos. Using street demonstrations will not work in pressuring the regime and government. This thinking is wrong.

Reporter, Man # 1
Reformists remained calm even before the speech. They canceled all demonstrations so that they do not appear to be in response to Iran’s supreme leader. However this is not the end. Thus far all efforts have failed to stop street demonstrations, neither the politicians nor the military have managed to put down the protests. Banning media from covering events in Iran, and preventing them from releasing images, have forced Mousavi’s supporters to change their strategy. The government says that the demonstrators are riff raffs, and Ahamadinejad says that they are “dust”; this sign however says that the protestors are part of this nation. Will the demonstrations end by one word of the supreme leader, or will the dust be transformed into a sand storm that may lead to results that no one has ever expected? But in a country like Iran, no one can guarantee this will happen.

Presenter, Woman #1
Joining us from Tehran is our correspondent Reda Basha. What are the reactions to the speech of the supreme leader of the Islamic republic thus far?

Guest, Man # 4
Of course the Iranians especially those who partook in Friday’s sermon welcomed the speech of Khamenei. They held demonstrations expressing their support in the streets of Tehran. They supported what was said during the speech and reiterated that they will stay loyal to president Ahamadinejad and what was said in the speech.

Presenter, Male #1
With us from Tehran, the Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera in Iran, Muhammad Hassan Al-Bahrani. Muhammad, what are the reactions and the immediate reflections of his speech on the street?

Reporter, Male #2
Perhaps it’s too early to talk about the internal reactions on the Iranian street but in general, it may be said that Ali Khamenei, in his speech today, removed many uncertainties of his position in terms of 3 main issues. The first issue is the results of the election. The Supreme Leader confirmed that there will be no reelection or cancelation of the election results and no possibility of the solution proposed by many supporters of the reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi such as the creation of a neutral committee to evaluate the whole election process as well as to address suspicions and grievances resulting from this election. He described these calls as unconstitutional and Khamenei reiterated that using unconstitutional methods will result in a loss of confidence over future elections by the Iranian people. Therefore, it may be said that the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic has specified an entity to deal with these grievances which is the Guardian Council. He called for all sides to wait for enough time for the Guardian Council’s investigation and analysis of the disputed elections and fraud charges, to be released. The second issue deals with the demonstrations. The Supreme Leader called for an end to these demonstrations and confirmed that going to the streets is unacceptable describing it as an attempt to dictate their will over Iranians. He urges those going to the streets to give up this way because it causes disturbances and he held those going to the streets responsible for any consequences including bloodshed. Perhaps he put the ball in Mousavi’s court. It is likely that Mir Hussein Mousavi will call for the end to the demonstrations, though temporarily, until the results of the Guardian Council’s investigations are released. However, with that, there is still a possibility of demonstrations tomorrow, though the chances are slim. The picture will become clearer tomorrow. The third important issue that has generated a lot of controversy and has exhausted ordinary Iranians pertains to Hashimi Rafsanjani. I think that Hashimi Rafsanjani and his supporters are feeling very relieved with the position expressed by the Supreme Leader regarding Rafsanjani. He described Rafsanjani as a historical figure and as a symbol of the regime of the Islamic Republic. It may be said that the Supreme Leader stopped the supporters of president Ahmadinejad who launched an unprecedented campaign against Rafsanjani for the past 3 weeks. The Supreme Leader said that he may disagree with Hashimi Rafsanjani about some matters of foreign and domestic affairs but he remains a symbol of the Islamic Republic. He said it’s not okay to level accusations in this manner. This is a clear signal to president Ahmadinejad about the fundamental difference between Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani. Khamenei tried to take the middle ground, despite making clear criticism against Ahmadinejad. Thank you Muhammad Hasan Al Bahrani from Tehran.

Presenter, Man #1
The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel described the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s speech as disappointing. Khamenei attacked the foreign powers for casting doubt on Iran’s election results in the speech. At the same time the British foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest Khamenei’s accusation towards the UK. In Friday’s speech, Khamenei called for a stop to the demonstrations, and held the reformers responsible for any possible outcome due to the continuation of the street demonstrations. He said this after he announced his support for President Ahmadinejad, and confirmed his victory in the election.

Guest, Man #1
The enemies are trying to show through various media methods, most of which are connected to the evil and despicable Zionists, that the matter is a conflict between the supporters and the dissidents of the regime. But that’s not the truth. They will lose.

Presenter, Man #1
Khamenei reiterated that he will not be subjected to unconstitutional fabrications, referring to the protests that aim at changing the results of the election, while confirming Ahmadinejad’s victory. He also held the reformers responsible of any development that might be caused by a continuation of the demonstrations, and called on them to resolve the issue through legal means.

Guest, Man #1
When extremism prevails in a society, it’ll lead to an extreme movement. If certain people want to step on the law, then they should be responsible for the bloodshed, violence and chaos regardless whether they wanted it or not.

Presenter, Man #1
Khamenei expressed his clear support for President Ahmadinejad. He added in his speech that the election process in Iran can not be forged. At the same time, he denied the assumption that says Ahmadinejad won by election fraud.

Guest, Man #1
Fraud is not allowed in our country. Those who ran the elections are completely aware of that and support it. The gap between the votes has reached eleven million. We might accept the possibility of forging a hundred thousand, or five hundred thousand, or maybe even a million votes. But how can there be eleven million forged votes?

Presenter, Man #1
As the crisis in Iran has entered its second week with all kinds of possibilities hanging, the governor of Tehran, Morteza Tamadone announced that tomorrow’s demonstrations, supposedly organized by the presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, were not authorized. The governor said that he hoped that these demonstrations would not take place, pointing out to the illegality of the past protests organized by Mousavi’s supporters, complaining about Ahmadinejad’s re-election.

Presenter, Female #1
The Iranian judiciary system has prevented former reformist president Hashemi Rafsanjani’s daughter and her four brothers from leaving the country, accusing them of participating in election demonstrations. This comes at a time when demonstrators call for boycotting Friday prayers performed by Iran’s Supreme Leader in The University of Tehran.

Reporter, Female #2
These cellular phone images show that Iran has entered a shaky period. These shaky images captured by the protestors’ cell phones reflect the unsteady regime due to the increasing momentum of street demonstrations aimed at changing the election results. Iran is witnessing its worst disturbances since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Iranian authorities banned foreign journalists and photographers from videotaping or even reporting about the protests. According to Reuters, some foreign journalists were even detained. This is how Iran looks one week after the announcement that Ahmadinejad won a second presidential term: massive demonstrations moving towards chaos. No one seems to know how things will end, especially when considering that protesters ignored warnings by the authorities and calls by the Supreme Leader. Hundreds of thousands of protestors stormed the streets of Tehran in support of presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. They held a peaceful demonstration to mourn the 8 people killed in mass demonstrations. Protestors were expressing their opposition to what they described as “election fraud”. The black demonstration that took place on the streets of Tehran reached the square of the late Supreme Leader Khomeini. They held pictures of the victims with signs reading “We will make the votes of our martyred brother’s count”. Some read “Why did you kill our brothers?” The most important thing was probably the demonstrator’s calls for people to stay home during Friday prayers led by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the University of Tehran. This is an unprecedented step in the history of the Islamic Republic. Amdist all this, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence announced a bombshell when they declared that they uncovered a terrorist plot to plant bombs in mosques and crowded areas in Tehran during the elections. The ministry said that these terrorist groups are linked to Iran’s enemies abroad including Israel. Following this announcement an arrest campaign was launched against some political opposition. So far, Mousavi’s calls and former president Mohammad Khatamei calls to release the prisoners have yielded no results.

Presenter, Female #1
Amidst grief and anger, the Iranian community in Paris is anxiously following the dangerous developments in Iran. Our reporter, Muna Sa’id, reports.

Reporter, Female #2
The news of violence in Iran is casting its shadow over the Iranian community in Paris, which numbers almost 20,000 people. The dangerous situation in Iran is being felt here in Paris, where members of the Iranian community are closely monitoring post-election events. The Iranian community in Paris is deeply concerned about their country’s future. In the Center of La Redsprenor, where many Iranian shops and restaurants are, the situation in Iran is dominating the spectrum. Most of the people we met asked to be interviewed off the camera. However, a few who didn’t worry about being recorded, have expressed mixed reactions about the election results, the violence, and the country’s future.

Guest, Male #1
The violence will continue until new elections are held. The Iranian people proved that the election results were forged. The entire Iranian nation said that the elections were rigged because everyone knew that Mousavi would win.

Reporter, Female #2
On the other hand, some believe that the election results were not forged, and described the process as “democratic.” In addition, some described Ahmedinejad’s return to power as “good.”

Guest, Male #2
I voted for Ahmadinjad. These elections were very democratic, as shown in Iranian televised debates. If some of the votes or the results were forged, which I doubt, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution called for a vote recount in some of the districts reporting fraud.

Reporter, Female #2
Still another group in the community believes that a victory by either Ahmadinejad or Mousavi is “bad for the country,” saying that Iran must witness an overall change of power.

Guest, Female #3
I don’t recognize Ahmadinejad or Mousavi. In my opinion, both are conservatives. What is happening in Iran is regretful and sad. We must stand by and support the Iranian people.

Reporter, Female #2
Some Iranians believe that the images coming out of Iran and seen on television screens around the world have achieved their objectives, by instigating fear among the international community. They also believe that the return of Nejad to power, in the end, will help U.S. interests. A state of fear and panic is casting shadow over members of the Iranian community in France. The violent incidents in Tehran have prompted some to remain silent and refuse to issue statements. Muna Sa’id, Future TV, Paris.

Presenter, Female #1
Dr. Habib, do you think that it is in Iran’s interest for Ahmadinejad to continue with the same policies towards the Arabs and the West and in the same manner?

Guest, Male #1
Ahmadinejad’s policies towards the Arab states are not completely bad. In terms of relations with Egypt, during one month Ahmadinejad sent the foreign minister, the head of the Guardian council, and the head of the National Security Council to Egypt. The Egyptian response was negative despite Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, expressing the best position he has had towards Iran when he equated the peaceful Iranian nuclear program, which is 1000 kilometers away from him, to the Israeli nuclear warheads which are adjacent to the Egyptian border. Generally, Iranian policy towards the Arabs and Arab relations are based on the unequivocal principles of Iran.

Presenter, Female #1
However, Arab concern over Iran which cannot be hidden has increased in the past four years despite what you mentioned.

Guest, Male #1
The perspective between Iran and the Arabs is that Iran has real concerns about the Arabs but this concern is undeclared while the Arabs have baseless concerns about the Iranians and these concerns are voiced and exaggerated. In the history of the relationship of the two countries for the past 30 years, Iran has never attacked the Arabs. It never went to war against the Arabs.

Presenter, Female #1
Iran supports resistance groups opposing the governments of more than one Arab state. This is the main reason behind the concern over Iran’s involvement in the region, Dr.Habib.

Guest, Male #1
Generally, Iran only supports the resistance groups whose priorities are limited to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Everything outside this framework can be put under the context of media exaggeration or deception which is being carried out by some Arab media outlets under America’s sphere of influence. Nobody, Ms.Katreen, doubts that the Arab states, especially in the Gulf, fall under the U.S.’ sphere of influence. The Arab states policies and opinions of Iran completely stem from and are shaped by the American will. Thirdly, every time the Arabs find an opportunity to open up to Iran they do because in reality, there aren’t legitimate problems between the Arabs and the Iranians.

Presenter, Female #1
So you’re saying that Ahmadinejad will continue with the same policies in his upcoming governing years?

Guest, Male #1
Everyone in the Arab world who is tired of American dictates is going to have excellent relations with Iran. Every time Arab states bow to American dictates and pressure there is going to be tension between the two sides.

Host, Man # 1
The four candidates were approved by the regime, but Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei supported Ahmadinejad in particular. Some say that Ahmadinejad obeys him unlike the rest of the candidates who may compete with him over influence, if they were elected.

Guest, Man
Iran’s supreme leader said that the Iranians should vote for the candidate who is from the people, who understands the peoples’ needs and grievances. He wants someone who serves the Iranian people, many of whom are poor and oppressed. Ahmadinjad fits this description. The Supreme leader did not support a candidate who comes from a city with a middle-class upbringing because he would not understand the needs of ordinary people. This is why some led by Mir Hosein Mousavi who are also part of the governing class have challenged the Supreme Leader. The same can be said about Mahdi Karubi, the parliament speaker and a religious man. Ahamadinejad was the choice of the supreme leader because he has the support of the people. This is why the people voted for him.

Host, Man # 1
You said that the situation in Iran is dangerous and that there is a division within the Iranian regime. Does this division include the security forces, the revolutionary guard, and the army? Also, do you think that the international attention that has been given to the protesters is justifiable? Germany called in the Iranian Ambassador to protest Iran’s treatment of demonstrators. In addition, Joe Biden criticized the elections results. Will this affect Ahmadinejads second term? Do you think that Iran needs a different Ahmadinejad?

Guest, Man # 2
Have Germany or France ever called in the Saudi Ambassador to protest the fact that Saudi Arabia has no elections? Have they ever called in the Egyptian Ambassador when the Egyptian regime put Presidential candidate Ayamn Nur in prison because he dared compete with Mubarak in the elections? The West is scrutinizing Iran. The West wants to undermine Iran from within because this would serve Israel’s interests. They want to do that because Iran has a nuclear program and they do not want Iran to have nuclear program. They do not want Iran to become an equivalent power to Israel. This is the truth whether we like it or not. This is the problem. Are you saying that the West cares about the Arab world? Look how the West has welcomed Omar Gadaffi. Does the West really care about establishing democracy in Iran? Why doesn’t the West care about establishing democracy in Saudi Arabia?

MIR: The Supreme Leader has spoken using no ifs, ands or buts in his words. I've stayed up all night listening to the Ayatollah deliver his Friday sermon in Farsi on IRINN TV, simultaneously translated into English on Press TV and Arabic on Al Alam. For a week now, Iran has commanded the world's attention. Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated for six days in a row to express their outrage about the results of the election. Protesters from various walks of life marched in the streets of Tehran "to get their votes back". Some had not even voted but still felt the urge to protest and despite threats from the Basij militia they took to the street. They braved the beatings, and on Thursday dressed in black to mourn their comrades who were killed in clashes earlier during the week. On Friday, they were nowhere to be seen amongst the sea of Khamenei's followers. They've done the right thing and stayed at home... otherwise, a bloodbath might have ensued. In his speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has said that the people have chosen who they want as president in the country's recently disputed election. Delivering a sermon during Friday prayers at Tehran University, Khamenei let there be no doubt about where he stood and strengthened the position of Ahmadinejad. "Candidates were put forward into public eye, everyone could judge for themselves... they have identified the person they wanted," he said. Earlier, losing candidates Mousavi and Karroubi, had asked their supporters to show up en masse on Saturday instead of Friday to avoid confrontations. The Arab media has been abuzz with the "Iranian Intifada," as some have been referring to it. I wonder why this term was chosen... could it be because an Intifada expresses the will of the people but eventually gets crushed? I've read a headline somewhere that Arabs have kept silent about Iran's political upheaval. This is far from the truth. The Iranian Election has been the lead story for the past week on more than three dozen Arab stations I monitor in the Arab world with one exception: on Egyptian television when Egypt defeated Italy, the world champions in soccer, in the Confederations Cup semi-finals. The western media ought to stop generalizing and profiling. The Arab world is not a monolith, and the people are different from the governments. Arabs have been very energized by the Iranian Election phenomenon. They've been debating it night and day, blogging about it and even tweeting it! They are even jealous that Iranians can get away with one week of anti-government protests. Imagine if this had happened in Saudi Arabia... or in Egypt where Obama chose to visit and address the Muslim world. Some say tomorrow will bring another dawn and, the opposition will be back on the streets, but will they really show up? The Ayatollah may have put the nail in the coffin of the opposition, my source in Tehran tells me.