4:28
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3:01
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Líder Supremo insta a implementar reformas estructurales en la ONU - Spanish
Irán celebra hoy viernes el segundo día de la reunión de los jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de la XVI Cumbre del Movimiento No Alineado (MNA). La cita fue inaugurada ayer jueves por El...
Irán celebra hoy viernes el segundo día de la reunión de los jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de la XVI Cumbre del Movimiento No Alineado (MNA). La cita fue inaugurada ayer jueves por El Líder Supremo de la Revolución Islámica de Irán, el ayatolá Seyed Ali Jamenei. La necesidad de reformas en la estructura de las Naciones Unidas ha sido uno de los principales temas abordados en esta reunión.
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Irán celebra hoy viernes el segundo día de la reunión de los jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de la XVI Cumbre del Movimiento No Alineado (MNA). La cita fue inaugurada ayer jueves por El Líder Supremo de la Revolución Islámica de Irán, el ayatolá Seyed Ali Jamenei. La necesidad de reformas en la estructura de las Naciones Unidas ha sido uno de los principales temas abordados en esta reunión.
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http://hispantv.com/Frequencies.aspx
53:24
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100:36
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[01] شک کے عوامل Shaq ke Awamil - 18 Safar 1434 - Ustad Syed Jawad Naqavi - Urdu
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining...
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining \"SHAQ\" narrated in the Hikmat No.31 of Nahjul Balagha by Imam Ali (as)
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Description:
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining \"SHAQ\" narrated in the Hikmat No.31 of Nahjul Balagha by Imam Ali (as)
89:09
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[02] شک کے عوامل Shaq ke Awamil - 19 Safar 1434 - Ustad Syed Jawad Naqavi - Urdu
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining...
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining \\\"SHAQ\\\" narrated in the Hikmat No.31 of Nahjul Balagha by Imam Ali (as)
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Description:
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : A series of Majalis at held different locations explaining \\\"SHAQ\\\" narrated in the Hikmat No.31 of Nahjul Balagha by Imam Ali (as)
مومن اور مُنافق کی پہچان Hubb-e-Ali (as) - Momin aur Munafiq ki Pehchaan - Ustad Syed Jawad
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : Hikmat-e-Ali (as) No.45 - Held at Landhi Baber Market, Karachi....
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : Hikmat-e-Ali (as) No.45 - Held at Landhi Baber Market, Karachi. 21st Safar 1434
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Description:
Subject : Maarif-e-Islami
Event : Muharram 1434-2012
Category : Majalis
Location : Karachi
Description : Hikmat-e-Ali (as) No.45 - Held at Landhi Baber Market, Karachi. 21st Safar 1434
92:39
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24:13
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[14 Jan 13] No need for drone-assisted democracy in Yemen - English
As growing US domination has sparked numerous mass demonstrations in Yemen, protesters have taken to streets to express the people\'s total rejection of foreign intervention in their country\'s...
As growing US domination has sparked numerous mass demonstrations in Yemen, protesters have taken to streets to express the people\'s total rejection of foreign intervention in their country\'s affairs. Meanwhile, human rights groups have lambasted the increasing number of US assassination drone attacks in Yemen, which mostly target innocent civilians. Washington uses its assassination drones in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia, claiming that they target the terrorists. The attacks, however, have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.
To further discuss the issue, Press TV\'s News analysis program has conducted an interview with vice chairman of the Southern Civil democratic Rally, Mohammed Qubati, from London, Yassir al-Mohelel political analysts in Sana\'a and Fredrick Peterson in Washington.
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Description:
As growing US domination has sparked numerous mass demonstrations in Yemen, protesters have taken to streets to express the people\'s total rejection of foreign intervention in their country\'s affairs. Meanwhile, human rights groups have lambasted the increasing number of US assassination drone attacks in Yemen, which mostly target innocent civilians. Washington uses its assassination drones in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia, claiming that they target the terrorists. The attacks, however, have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.
To further discuss the issue, Press TV\'s News analysis program has conducted an interview with vice chairman of the Southern Civil democratic Rally, Mohammed Qubati, from London, Yassir al-Mohelel political analysts in Sana\'a and Fredrick Peterson in Washington.
3:41
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6:39
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1:56
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4:06
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100:21
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1:12
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[05 June 13] Debate : No to military intervention in Syria - English
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against any attempt at foreign military intervention in Syria, stressing that the move would only make the situation worse.
Speaking at a joint news...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against any attempt at foreign military intervention in Syria, stressing that the move would only make the situation worse.
Speaking at a joint news conference after a summit with European Union leaders in Yekaterinburg, Putin said on Tuesday that any future foreign military intervention in Syria is doomed to fail.
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Description:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned against any attempt at foreign military intervention in Syria, stressing that the move would only make the situation worse.
Speaking at a joint news conference after a summit with European Union leaders in Yekaterinburg, Putin said on Tuesday that any future foreign military intervention in Syria is doomed to fail.
3:46
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[16 June 13] US using no-fly zone to justify direct intervention in Syria - English
Press TV has conducted an interview Ralph Schoenman, political commentator, Berkeley, about accusations by the Western alliance against the Syrian government over alleged use of chemical weapons...
Press TV has conducted an interview Ralph Schoenman, political commentator, Berkeley, about accusations by the Western alliance against the Syrian government over alleged use of chemical weapons whilst training al-Qaeda militants to use CWs.
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Description:
Press TV has conducted an interview Ralph Schoenman, political commentator, Berkeley, about accusations by the Western alliance against the Syrian government over alleged use of chemical weapons whilst training al-Qaeda militants to use CWs.
3:02
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[27 June 13] No breakthrough yet in Yemen natl. dialog - English
Not much has changed since the national dialogue conference was launched some three months ago. The process brought together the country\'s top political leaders ranging from all factions with the...
Not much has changed since the national dialogue conference was launched some three months ago. The process brought together the country\'s top political leaders ranging from all factions with the aim to bring lasting peace in the country. The primary aim of the NDC is to come up with solutions for a wide-range of issues, which have put Yemen in a state political instability with much tensions rising over separatist slogans from the south of the country. The national dialogue conference sessions has so far marred with a number of unprecedented events such as sit-ins by representatives from the south and their repeated demands for independence. Many southerners attending the NDC say the separation calls are due to lack of hope in the government to solve the southern concerns.
Yousef Mawry, Press TV, Sana\'a
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Description:
Not much has changed since the national dialogue conference was launched some three months ago. The process brought together the country\'s top political leaders ranging from all factions with the aim to bring lasting peace in the country. The primary aim of the NDC is to come up with solutions for a wide-range of issues, which have put Yemen in a state political instability with much tensions rising over separatist slogans from the south of the country. The national dialogue conference sessions has so far marred with a number of unprecedented events such as sit-ins by representatives from the south and their repeated demands for independence. Many southerners attending the NDC say the separation calls are due to lack of hope in the government to solve the southern concerns.
Yousef Mawry, Press TV, Sana\'a
42:52
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[Episodio 03] Ese no es el camino - Thats not the Way - Spanish
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 3
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto...
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 3
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
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Description:
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 3
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
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40:54
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[Episodio 04] Ese no es el camino - Thats not the Way - Spanish
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 4
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto...
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 4
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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Description:
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 4
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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41:07
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[Episodio 05] Ese no es el camino - Thats not the Way - Spanish
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 5
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto...
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 5
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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Description:
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 5
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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4:17
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[12 July 13] No private communication exists in US: Mark Mason - English
Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Mason, activist and political commentator, about computer giant Microsoft reportedly collaborating with America\'s intelligence services.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Mason, activist and political commentator, about computer giant Microsoft reportedly collaborating with America\'s intelligence services.
42:06
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[Episodio 07] Ese no es el camino - Thats not the Way - Spanish
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 7
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto...
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 7
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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More...
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Ese no es el camino - Episodio 7
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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41:49
|
[Episodio 08] Ese no es el camino - Thats not the Way - Spanish
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 8
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto...
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 8
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
http://www.facebook.com/Hispantv
http://plus.google.com/+hispantv
http://twitter.com/Hispantv
http://hispantv.com/Frequencies.aspx
More...
Description:
Ese no es el camino - Episodio 8
Freydun es un joven granjero con mucho talento en el área de la investigación y el desarrollo vegetativo y cree firmemente que el matrimonio tiene un efecto negativo en la vida de los científicos. Cuando su tío, que es un hombre poderoso y con mucha influencia en la aldea, anuncia que Freydun es el candidato para casarse con su hija, Freydun se escapa e incluso toma la decisión de abandonar el país, por este motivo llega a Teherán pero justo al llegar se enamora...
http://www.hispantv.com
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http://twitter.com/Hispantv
http://hispantv.com/Frequencies.aspx
12:37
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Velayat News (Rohani: israel in no position to strike Iran) - 07-18-13 - English
Velayat News is a daily English news bulletin covering world and community news, hosted by Abroo Sabzwari. This bulletin includes a report on Iran\'s president-elect Hassan Rohani: \'Israel is in...
Velayat News is a daily English news bulletin covering world and community news, hosted by Abroo Sabzwari. This bulletin includes a report on Iran\'s president-elect Hassan Rohani: \'Israel is in no position to strike Iran.\'
Follow Velayat TV USA:
Website: www.velayattv.org
YouTube: VelayatTVUSA
Facebook: VelayatTVUSA
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Velayat News is a daily English news bulletin covering world and community news, hosted by Abroo Sabzwari. This bulletin includes a report on Iran\'s president-elect Hassan Rohani: \'Israel is in no position to strike Iran.\'
Follow Velayat TV USA:
Website: www.velayattv.org
YouTube: VelayatTVUSA
Facebook: VelayatTVUSA
41:46
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Did Obama Lie about FATWA?? - Nuke Free World By Rehbar - English & Persian
DID OBAMA LIE ?????
September 30, 2013 – At his press briefing last Friday, Barack Obama practically ran to the podium to announce his “historic” phone call to Iran and to proclaim that the...
DID OBAMA LIE ?????
September 30, 2013 – At his press briefing last Friday, Barack Obama practically ran to the podium to announce his “historic” phone call to Iran and to proclaim that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a “fatwa” against nuclear arms.
The media salivated at the courageous, bold initiative by the president to negotiate with Iran and to obtain such a stunning diplomatic commitment. It sounded like the foreign policy coup of the century. And to think, all it took was a phone call. Not only that, it happened just days before Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Obama about the situation in Iran
September 30, 2013 – At his press briefing last Friday, Barack Obama practically ran to the podium to announce his “historic” phone call to Iran and to proclaim that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a “fatwa” against nuclear arms.
The media salivated at the courageous, bold initiative by the president to negotiate with Iran and to obtain such a stunning diplomatic commitment. It sounded like the foreign policy coup of the century. And to think, all it took was a phone call. Not only that, it happened just days before Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Obama about the situation in Iran
Reading Obama’s Iran speech
President Barack Obama addresses the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 24, 2013
President Barack Obama addresses the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:10PM GMT
2
Phyllis Bennis, The Nation
Related Interviews:
‘Rouhani’s remarks in US, conciliatory’
\\\\\\\'Rouhani speech, perfectly appropriate\\\\\\\'
Related Viewpoints:
Ziocons fume over Rouhani UN speech
All of a sudden we’re talking to Iran. Now, granted, that shouldn’t be such an astonishing bombshell. But given the reality of the last several decades, it pretty much is. And that’s all good. It’s been too long coming, it’s still too hesitant, there’s still too much hinting about military force behind it… but we’re talking. Foreign minister to foreign minister, Kerry to Zarif, it’s all a good sign.
There were lots of problem areas in the speech-President Obama was right when he said that US policy in the Middle East would lead to charges of “hypocrisy and inconsistency.” US policy-its protection of Israeli violations of international law, its privileging of petro-monarchies over human rights, its coddling of military dictators-remains rank with hypocrisy and inconsistency. And Obama’s speech reflected much of it.
But President Obama’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly reflected some of the extraordinary shifts in global-especially Middle East and most especially Syria-related-politics that have taken shape in the last six or eight weeks. And on Iran, that was good news. Yes the president trotted out his familiar litany that “we are determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.” But this time, there was no “all options on the table” threat. He added explicitly that “we are not seeking regime change and we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy.” The reference to Iran’s right to nuclear energy represented a major shift away from the longstanding claim among many US hawks and the Israeli government that Iran must give up all nuclear enrichment.
Respecting Iran’s right to “access” nuclear energy is still a bit of a dodge, of course-Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) recognizes not just access but “the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.” Iran is a longstanding signatory to the NPT, and is entitled to all those rights. Obama referred only that “we insist that the Iranian government meet its responsibilities” under the NPT, while saying nothing about Iran’s rights under the treaty. But the high visibility US recognition of any Iranian right to nuclear power-in the context of a new willingness to open talks-is still enormously important.
It was also important that President Obama spoke of Iran with respect, acknowledging Iranian interests and opinions as legitimate and parallel to Washington’s. He recognized that Iranian mistrust of the United States has “deep roots,” referencing (however carefully) the “history of US interference in their affairs and of America’s role in overthrowing an Iranian government during the Cold War.” In fact, his identification of the 1953 US-backed coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohamed Mossadegh as a product of the Cold War may have been part of an effort to distance himself and his administration from those actions. (It’s a bit disingenuous, of course. The primary rationale for the coup was far more a response to Mossadegh’s nationalization of Iran’s oil than to his ties to the Soviet Union.)
Obama also paid new attention to longstanding Iranian positions. He noted that “the Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, and President Rouhani has just recently reiterated that the Islamic Republic will never develop a nuclear weapon.” Now anyone following the Iran nuclear issue knows that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, stated at least as far back as 2003 that nuclear weapons are a violation of Islamic law and Iran would never build or use one, and the fatwa, or legal opinion, was issued at least as far back as 2005. This isn’t new. But for President Obama to mention those judgments in the context of “the basis for a meaningful agreement” is indeed new.
Mainstream US press and officials have long derided those statements, claiming that fatwas are not binding, that 700-year-old religious laws can’t have a position on nuclear weapons, etc. But in so doing they ignore the real significance-that President Rouhani, the Supreme Leader and the rest of Iran’s government have to answer to their own population too. After years of repeating that nuclear weapons would be un-Islamic, would violate a fatwa, etc., it would not be so easy for Iran’s leaders to win popular support for a decision to embrace the bomb.
There is a long way to go in challenging aspects of President Obama’s speech at the United Nations-his embrace of American exceptionalism and his recommitment to a failed approach to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, his view that war and violence can only be answered by military force or nothing, and more. He didn’t explicitly state a willingness to accept Iran’s participation in international talks on Syria. There is a serious danger that any move towards rapprochement with Iran would be matched with moves to pacify Israeli demands-almost certainly at the expense of Palestinian rights.
But in the broader scenario of US-Iran relations, this is a moment to move forward, to welcome the new approach in Washington now answering the new approach of Tehran.
More flexibility will be required than the United States is usually known for. The usual opponents-in Congress, in Israel and the pro-Israel lobbies-are already on the move, challenging the new opening. But these last weeks showed how a quickly organized demonstration of widespread public opinion, demanding negotiations instead of war, can win. We were able to build a movement fast, agile and powerful enough to reverse an imminent military attack on Syria and instead force a move towards diplomatic solutions to end the war. This time around, the demand to deepen, consolidate and not abandon diplomatic possibilities is on our agenda-and perhaps once again we can
More...
Description:
DID OBAMA LIE ?????
September 30, 2013 – At his press briefing last Friday, Barack Obama practically ran to the podium to announce his “historic” phone call to Iran and to proclaim that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a “fatwa” against nuclear arms.
The media salivated at the courageous, bold initiative by the president to negotiate with Iran and to obtain such a stunning diplomatic commitment. It sounded like the foreign policy coup of the century. And to think, all it took was a phone call. Not only that, it happened just days before Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Obama about the situation in Iran
September 30, 2013 – At his press briefing last Friday, Barack Obama practically ran to the podium to announce his “historic” phone call to Iran and to proclaim that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had issued a “fatwa” against nuclear arms.
The media salivated at the courageous, bold initiative by the president to negotiate with Iran and to obtain such a stunning diplomatic commitment. It sounded like the foreign policy coup of the century. And to think, all it took was a phone call. Not only that, it happened just days before Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Obama about the situation in Iran
Reading Obama’s Iran speech
President Barack Obama addresses the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 24, 2013
President Barack Obama addresses the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:10PM GMT
2
Phyllis Bennis, The Nation
Related Interviews:
‘Rouhani’s remarks in US, conciliatory’
\\\\\\\'Rouhani speech, perfectly appropriate\\\\\\\'
Related Viewpoints:
Ziocons fume over Rouhani UN speech
All of a sudden we’re talking to Iran. Now, granted, that shouldn’t be such an astonishing bombshell. But given the reality of the last several decades, it pretty much is. And that’s all good. It’s been too long coming, it’s still too hesitant, there’s still too much hinting about military force behind it… but we’re talking. Foreign minister to foreign minister, Kerry to Zarif, it’s all a good sign.
There were lots of problem areas in the speech-President Obama was right when he said that US policy in the Middle East would lead to charges of “hypocrisy and inconsistency.” US policy-its protection of Israeli violations of international law, its privileging of petro-monarchies over human rights, its coddling of military dictators-remains rank with hypocrisy and inconsistency. And Obama’s speech reflected much of it.
But President Obama’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly reflected some of the extraordinary shifts in global-especially Middle East and most especially Syria-related-politics that have taken shape in the last six or eight weeks. And on Iran, that was good news. Yes the president trotted out his familiar litany that “we are determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.” But this time, there was no “all options on the table” threat. He added explicitly that “we are not seeking regime change and we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy.” The reference to Iran’s right to nuclear energy represented a major shift away from the longstanding claim among many US hawks and the Israeli government that Iran must give up all nuclear enrichment.
Respecting Iran’s right to “access” nuclear energy is still a bit of a dodge, of course-Article IV of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) recognizes not just access but “the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.” Iran is a longstanding signatory to the NPT, and is entitled to all those rights. Obama referred only that “we insist that the Iranian government meet its responsibilities” under the NPT, while saying nothing about Iran’s rights under the treaty. But the high visibility US recognition of any Iranian right to nuclear power-in the context of a new willingness to open talks-is still enormously important.
It was also important that President Obama spoke of Iran with respect, acknowledging Iranian interests and opinions as legitimate and parallel to Washington’s. He recognized that Iranian mistrust of the United States has “deep roots,” referencing (however carefully) the “history of US interference in their affairs and of America’s role in overthrowing an Iranian government during the Cold War.” In fact, his identification of the 1953 US-backed coup that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohamed Mossadegh as a product of the Cold War may have been part of an effort to distance himself and his administration from those actions. (It’s a bit disingenuous, of course. The primary rationale for the coup was far more a response to Mossadegh’s nationalization of Iran’s oil than to his ties to the Soviet Union.)
Obama also paid new attention to longstanding Iranian positions. He noted that “the Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, and President Rouhani has just recently reiterated that the Islamic Republic will never develop a nuclear weapon.” Now anyone following the Iran nuclear issue knows that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, stated at least as far back as 2003 that nuclear weapons are a violation of Islamic law and Iran would never build or use one, and the fatwa, or legal opinion, was issued at least as far back as 2005. This isn’t new. But for President Obama to mention those judgments in the context of “the basis for a meaningful agreement” is indeed new.
Mainstream US press and officials have long derided those statements, claiming that fatwas are not binding, that 700-year-old religious laws can’t have a position on nuclear weapons, etc. But in so doing they ignore the real significance-that President Rouhani, the Supreme Leader and the rest of Iran’s government have to answer to their own population too. After years of repeating that nuclear weapons would be un-Islamic, would violate a fatwa, etc., it would not be so easy for Iran’s leaders to win popular support for a decision to embrace the bomb.
There is a long way to go in challenging aspects of President Obama’s speech at the United Nations-his embrace of American exceptionalism and his recommitment to a failed approach to Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, his view that war and violence can only be answered by military force or nothing, and more. He didn’t explicitly state a willingness to accept Iran’s participation in international talks on Syria. There is a serious danger that any move towards rapprochement with Iran would be matched with moves to pacify Israeli demands-almost certainly at the expense of Palestinian rights.
But in the broader scenario of US-Iran relations, this is a moment to move forward, to welcome the new approach in Washington now answering the new approach of Tehran.
More flexibility will be required than the United States is usually known for. The usual opponents-in Congress, in Israel and the pro-Israel lobbies-are already on the move, challenging the new opening. But these last weeks showed how a quickly organized demonstration of widespread public opinion, demanding negotiations instead of war, can win. We were able to build a movement fast, agile and powerful enough to reverse an imminent military attack on Syria and instead force a move towards diplomatic solutions to end the war. This time around, the demand to deepen, consolidate and not abandon diplomatic possibilities is on our agenda-and perhaps once again we can