The recent post election turmoil in Iran has proved to be a defining moment for it’s attempts at democracy. The chant of “Where’s my vote?” has quickly replaced the national anthem of “Death to America” as voter outrage lead to the first uprising in the region not instigated by the CIA. Incumbent Mahmoud Ahmedinejad gained victory over his rivals by winning the crucial Ayatollah vote, the only one that counted. The backlash from opposition supporters has been met by a brutal response from government forces which has brought up obvious and crucial questions such as…does Iran still harbor nuclear ambitions, and what does this mean for America?
We sent our Correspondent, Omar Bashir to find out.
[Middle East Correspondent] I’m here with Saeed Amanpour, who was an observer at the ceremony for the current…and new Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saeed.
[Saeed Mohamed] It is good to be here. When I was told you were a network with a passion for objective truth and journalistic integrity, I was eager to speak to you.
[Middle East Correspondent] That’s us…Now as you know, we were unsuccessful in our attempts to get an interview with the president himself. There are only so many times you can be threatened with death before calling it quits…I’m sure you can relate being Iranian.
[Saeed Mohamed] That’s not—
[Middle East Correspondent] So since I already have my questions prepared, we’re going to have to do some role play. I’ll be me….and you be President Ahmadinejad.
[Saeed Mohamed] You jest with me, yes?
[Middle East Correspondent] No. George Bush pretended to be president for 8 years, this is nothing.
[Saeed Mohamed] Why not simply prepare another interview?
[Middle East Correspondent] And mess up all my prep work? It’s easier this way. Right, let’s just get the formalities out of the way first.
[Saeed Mohamed] What are these?
[Middle East Correspondent] Binding preconditions. If you could just sign here, and here.
[Saeed Mohamed] How can you be serious…”recognise Israel’s right to exist”?…denounce my “nefarious nuclear ambitions”?…”shave my beard”? I don’t even have a beard.
[Middle East Correspondent] Yes you do…President Ahmadinejad?
[Saeed Mohamed] Insanity! You cannot expect me to sign this.
[Middle East Correspondent] Good, that’s good. You sound just like him. Why don’t we talk about your re-election?
[Saeed Mohamed] …This is foolishness.
[Middle East Correspondent] Do you feel you have been excessive in your use of force against opposition supporters?
[Saeed Mohamed] The reaction from government forces has been unjustified. I would liken it to the Rodney King incident but multiplied many times over. Terrible!
[Middle East Correspondent] You’re saying these people deserved the beatings?
[Saeed Mohamed] No, that’s not at all what I am trying to say.
[Middle East Correspondent] OK. Some sections remain adamant you stole election. How can you reassure people your position is legitimate?
[Saeed Mohamed] Well, it is possible the result was the correct one. Ahmadinejad remains a popular figure in certain areas, but without proper independent analysis we cannot be sure of the numbers.
[Middle East Correspondent] …You’re going to have stick to character…Did you or did you not steal the election, President Ahmadinejad?
[Saeed Mohamed] I–It is possible I didn’t, no.
[Middle East Correspondent] You don’t sound to sure, President Ahmadinejad?
[Saeed Mohamed] I am just doubting my agreement to do this interview.
[Middle East Correspondent] With your re-election, will you continue to pursue yellow cake as agressively as you have done previously?
[Saeed Mohamed] Yellow wh–You are refering to the alleged nuclear weapons?
[Middle East Correspondent] I think we both know it is not ‘alleged’. Why else would we impose so many sanctions that have helped cripple your economy and slow the advement of your country if we were at least 20% you had nukes?
[Saeed Mohamed] I do not know the American mind, but these sanctions change nothing when Iran is so well aligned with countries such as Russia and North Korea.
[Middle East Correspondent] So you’re saying you don’t fear sanctions and will continue developing weapons with the aid of Russia and North Korea?
[Saeed Mohamed] I have said there is no intention to build weapons.
[Middle East Correspondent] Do you worry your pursuit of yellow cake will cause you to become more isolated from the west?
[Saeed Mohamed] Iran is not as reliant on the west as it once was.
[Middle East Correspondent] As you know, raq also felt they didn’t need the west, but we showed them how wrong they were. It may be best for you to give in–I mean reconsider your nuclear postion.
[Saeed Mohamed] The US administration cannot dictate nuclear policy to every country. It is foolhardy to think so.
[Middle East Correspondent] Someone has to. Many analysts, including Saeed Amanpour have stated that an Iran with yellow cake would terrorise the world.
[Saeed Mohamed] I have not said such words!
[Middle East Correspondent] Can we stay in character here, please? Now, you have already shown you intentions by saying you wish to wipe Israel ‘off the map’.
[Saeed Mohamed] This is a misrepresentation of what was actually said by those with the same journalistic integrity as yourself. We would not use weapons against any of our neighbours.
[Middle East Correspondent] Then you have thought about making a nuclear weapon?
[Saeed Mohamed] No, I am speaking hypothetically.
[Middle East Correspondent] Right…and if the US were to launch a pre-emptive military strike in an effort to disabled your yellow cake production capability, would you be prepared?…Hypothetically?
[Saeed Mohamed] You dare come here to suggest a military strike on Iranian soil?
[Middle East Correspondent] No, no. Of course not…but let’s just say a stray missile were to land in the area, where is the best place for it to hit for all your nuclear sites to be disabled?
[Saeed Mohamed] Enough of this! I cannot believe the arrogance you have demonstrated to come all this way, when my country is in the midst of political turmoil, to talk about your own self interests! It is extremely delusional to believe you could approach the president in this disrespectful manner and get away with it, I will no linger play this childish game!
[Middle East Correspondent] …OK, you’re getting way too into this. Maybe you should calm down.
[Saeed Mohamed] Maybe you should leave!
[Middle East Correspondent] You still haven’t signed this contract.
[Saeed Mohamed] OUT!
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