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Rude Awakening
19-Apr-2012
The announcement on Tuesday 17th April by the United States expressing sympathy with the United Arab Emirates and in support of a negotiated settlement between Iran and the government of that Persian Gulf state over the three so called disputed islands is a dangerous step with drastic ramifications for the future relationship between the Iranian nation and the United States. It is not as Americans might think a measure taken against an unpopular tyrannical regime, but a slap in the face and a rude awakening for a nation who receives regular messages of goodwill from the President of the United States. It makes a mockery of Obama's insistence that his quarrel is only with the government of the Islamic Republic and not with the Iranian people. By declaring that Iranian territorial integrity is negotiable, Americans are proving that they do not mean what they say and in their foreign policy they do not distinguish between the interests of Iran as a country and its ruling establishment.
Here I do not wish to cite cultural and historical evidence to prove how Greater and the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa are an inalienable part of Iran's national territory. Many scholarly works have been written on this topic and the evidence for Iranian sovereignty over these Islands is irrefutable. They have been part of the Iranian historical and political landscape since time immemorial. Their roots are as deep as Persepolis and Ekbatana, going back to the time of the Medes, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid Empires. They were occupied by the British for nearly seventy years during which various Iranian governments reiterated their territorial rights over these islands and made many official complaints regarding their occupation. In 1971, based on an agreement between Britain and Iran, the Islands were returned to Iranian sovereignty. Claims of the UAE whose history of fledgling existence is merely 40 years, over these Iranian islands are insupportable and outrageous.
What is even more offensive is that the United States is using these Iranian islands as pawns in its strife with the clerical government. In its sabre rattling with the mullahs, contrary to what it has repeatedly professed , the United States has not shown any sign of differentiating between Iranian people’s interests and the challenge posed by the Islamic Republic. Moreover, it is sowing the seeds of animosity with all Iranians, friends and foes alike. A government that over the years in the United Nations has repeatedly vetoed resolutions demanding that Israel cease all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has the temerity to all of a sudden call for the claims of the United Arab Emirates over the three Iranian islands to be brought before the International Court of Justice.
Hearing about the training of MKO terrorists at a secret site in Nevada or covert American activities in arming Kurdish and Baluch separatists and now the news of backing UAE over its bogus claim over Iranian territory, there is no way that any Iranian with a modicum of common sense would be able to convince herself or himself that America is a bosom friend of Iranians and only endeavours to undermine the fanatical ruler of their country.
The threat to Iran’s territorial integrity is so unprecedented that even an ardent pro-Western Iranian political activist like the late Daryoush Homayoun warned against American and Israeli involvement in providing help to groups that aim to break up Iran and divide it into many parts. In his last recorded interview with Faramarz Forouzandeh just before his death in 2011, Homayoun said: "I always thought Israel was a friend of Iran and it saddens me to see that it is fostering and supporting groups that aim at the disintegration of our country."
The dilemma faced by any Iranian nationalists today is that they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On the one hand they are facing a repressive dictatorship which drains their national vitality and tramples on the human rights of the citizens, and on the other hand an opposition which within the country is brutally repressed and outside the country has been mainly reduced to an instrument of foreign powers and a comprador bourgeoisie in training. How can Iranian activists living and receiving support from the United States keep their loyalty to Iran while hobnobbing with a power that thinks the cities and borders of their homeland are dispensable and subject to negotiation? How can they in good conscience go around posing for photos and attending press conferences with senators and dignitaries of such a country and at the same time posture as redeemers of the Iranian future and inspiration of its youth?
Daryoush Homayoun was not a person who would use his words thoughtlessly and in the aforementioned interview he declares that if he would be forced to choose between an Iran that is whole and united under the mullahs and a disintegrated one divided across ethnic lines, he would choose the former option. The United States of America with its wrong-headed and disingenuous policy that only results in alienating the majority of Iranians is playing right into the hands of the mullahs and forcing all Iranians to rally behind a corrupt and tyrannical government in order to save their country from disintegration.
Unfortunately it is left to the likes of Mr Rafsanjani, with his abominable record to don the garment of Iranian nationalism and declare: "Those wishing to separate the three Persian Gulf islands from our homeland have to pass through a sea of blood." How many of our so-called Iranian activists abroad have the gumption to jeopardise their bread and butter and tell their American hosts that Iranian territorial integrity is not on the table? Unfortunately not many; and ergo the perpetual attitudinizing of the regime as the only viable option for those Iranians interested in protecting the intactness of their country’s borders and totality of their homeland.
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IR continues to pay high price
by Arash Kamangir on Sat Apr 21, 2012 07:22 AM PDTIR has always paid a high price ( and with it iranian people) for continuation of wrong policies. In 80's it was the Iran-Iraq war and now it is the issue with nuclear facilities. IR is very well aware that they cannot win issues that is involved with superpowers and big powers, but still it does it because such issues continue for years and they can furthermore suppress the politics inside Iran itself.
Gracias
by maziar 58 on Fri Apr 20, 2012 09:27 PM PDTshirin khanoom.
Maziar
Rude awakening
by Shirin Tabibzadeh on Fri Apr 20, 2012 05:14 PM PDTVery well said Mr Bayegan. The least that Iranian Americans can do is to make them understand that they don't vote next November or at all for that matter. Americans are the least trustworthy friend other countries can have.
This was an outstanding article.
by amirparvizforsecularmonarchy on Fri Apr 20, 2012 06:28 PM PDTa slap in the face and a rude awakening for a nation who receives
regular messages of goodwill from the President of the United States.
As if US Navy calling the persian Gulf, the Arabic Gulf, in all its literature and maps is not a slap in the face of the ordinary people of iran, being deceived
the United States has not shown any sign of differentiating between
Iranian people’s interests and the challenge posed by the Islamic
Republic.
That is clearly because the truth is that which the media's job it is to conceal and that is the USA and Allies Love extremism and the IRI for Iran, which they brought to power and have kept in power, originally by manipulating iranians and now against the will of the people of Iran. The USA knows very well the interests of the people of Iran and brought the extremists to Africanize Iran in opposition to the interests of the people of Iran, make Iran so weak she could no longer afford to educate and develop her people. That is why the USA government & corporate controlled media portrayed the late shah a dictator, a crook, a brutal despot, etc etc, to harm the people of Iran, because they knew he was not nd they wanted to be able to dominate iranians by removing his team which was delivering too much progress.
//iranian.com/main/blog/amirparvizforsecularm...
Reza Bayeganm the link above is for you to read another related important article.
As long as Mullahs are in power, we have problem
by Siavash300 on Fri Apr 20, 2012 08:28 AM PDTAs long as these Islamic rag heads running the country, we constantly have problem with all Arab neighbores and the state of Israel. The only solution is to get rid of mullahs first and then make a peace with all neighbores. Surely U.S will respect Iran's territory once shah's son is taking the office. We didn't have any problem with any country when shah was on power.
GOAL : RESTORING MONARCHY
iamfine: Agreed, and....
by Bavafa on Fri Apr 20, 2012 08:03 AM PDTsince I believe this is not just Obama's policy but the US, I believ the best path for Iranian-Americans is to unite and try to gain a voice in Washington, much like other minority groups have done.
'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory
Mehrdad
Dr Mohamdes Jan
by Simorgh5555 on Fri Apr 20, 2012 01:12 AM PDTThe US State Department official position on Abu Musa island is disappointing but not in the least bit surprising given the current political state of affairs between Iran and the nuclear issue. Before we overreact, though, we should be aware that the USA has not taken sides as to which country has territorial sovereign rights over the islands although they are undisputably Iranian. It surprises most people that the USA does not even recognise Israel's right to the West Bank and even less its occupation of East Jerusalem which Israel insists is its eternal capital.
However, the ONLY countries which have taken sides in this matter are the Palestinians and Lebanese who have, as you quite rightly pointed out, been the greatest beneficiaries of IR financial support. BOTH Fatah in Ramallah and Hamas in Gaza have previously supported previous Arab charters declaring the so-called disputed Islands as being Arab and in the past Palestinian leaderships have supported Saddam Hussein's aggression against Iran and his temporary occupation of Khuzestan before he was driven out.
I have been saying for years that Iranian nationalism and Islam are mutuually incompatible and there will inevitably come a timr when both entities come to conflict with one another. Today, Abu Musa and the islands of Tunbs and tomorrow the Arabs will re-state the Pan Arabist beleifs that Khuzestan is Arab and should separate from Iran.
Watch this space.......
"Americans are proving that
by Bahram_Bukhara on Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:43 AM PDT"Americans are proving that they do not mean what they say and in their foreign policy..." - I don't think this should come as a surprise.
'Ungrateful bastards'- And guess what the Lebanese think
by Simorgh5555 on Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:42 AM PDTLebanon's PM criticizes Iranian president's visit to disputed island
English.news.cn 2012-04-15 05:59:06
Beirut, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati discussed Saturday with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to the disputed island of Abu Musa.
According to a statement released by Mikati's media office, the PM told Roknabadi that Ahmadinejad's comments during that visit " inflame the ongoing conflict in the region, at a time when we require awareness to strengthen the calm and security that reflect positively on all countries of the region and contribute to their development."
Mikati also expressed surprise at Ahmadinejad's comments about the predominance of Iranian civilization and culture throughout the ages, saying that "Arab civilization has long spread its culture in the countries of the region."
Simorghjan
by Dr. Mohandes on Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:16 AM PDTHere we can the plain truth and see how these how these palestinians really feel about us iranians. Makes one feel so sorry and so sad thinking all the money that was pissed away taking care of those ungrateful SOB's.
With regards to all these bullying, These bastards needs to be taught a real harsh lesson so that they can forever forget about the bullshit idea of "arabs are scared shitless of iran's military power" and take that lesson to their graves. I hope that they face the music, the hard way and get their behinds handed to them so they will stop zerzerring.
Don't mean to give credit where it Is NOT due, but we can not overlook the fact that if it were not for that same measly, teeny tiny UAE many of our compatriot iranians would not have been able to accumulate such legendary wealth that they have now. Some retards claim if it were not for iranians going to those gulf states, they would remain as small and as insignificant as they once were, Ignorantly overlooking the fact that people usually get lured to a region or a country where there are plenty of economic opportunity, or there is good investment opportunity, and room for growth which UAE had it all, Hence its flourishing further and rewarding iranians immensely in the meantime.
I hope that when the going gets tough, when the shit really hits the fan they will show who the boss is and do some serious roo kam koni, which could hopefully be an overture and a perlude to our eventual freedom. bring in those high tech weapons and kick some behind.
You want your freaking Islands. Here you go.
And gues what the Palestians think?
by Simorgh5555 on Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:39 PM PDTPalestinian official accuses Iran of provoking region
APRIL 16, 2012 ⋅ 8:54 PM ⋅ YA LIBYAN
FILED UNDER HAMAS, IRAN, OCCUPIED ISLANDS, PALESTINIANS, UAE
The secretary-general of the Palestinian Authority on Monday accused Iran of provoking regional strife by violating the sovereignty of the UAE.
Tayyeb Abdul Rahim condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Abu Musa, one of three Gulf islands claimed by both the UAE and Iran.
The PA rejects Iranian threats to the Gulf states “as we reject the Israeli occupation and resist it,” the secretary-general said in a statement.
He said Ahmadinejad’s visit was intended to create problems in the Palestinian arena, in the Gulf areas and in general across the Arab world.
Abu Musa is valued for its strategic position in the Strait of Hormuz and for its potential oil reserves. The island has been held by Iran since 1971, shortly before the seven Gulf emirates gained full independence from Britain and formed the UAE.
Saudi Arabia also criticized Ahmadinegad’s trip. The Saudi cabinet said it was a “transgression of efforts towards a peaceful solution of the issue of the UAE islands,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
ShirOjan
by iamfine on Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:15 PM PDTabsolutely correct. If what you are saying is correct, Iran should ask some kind of fee for each ship passing through THE HORMUZ
Bavafa
by iamfine on Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:10 PM PDTI should add Iranian citizens in the US should aslo need to stand against their Obama for US wrong policy toward those islands
" Free the Baluchs from the talons of the Persian Empire !"
by bushtheliberator on Thu Apr 19, 2012 08:23 PM PDTI don't want to deny anyone the pleasures of their paranoid fantasy.but I don't believe that the Great Satan wants to carve up Iran into mini-states.Your Local Neighborhood Hegemon most values stability ; the dissolution of Iran would bring permanent instability to the Gulf that could only advantage the Russians.
That doesn't mean that Uncle Sam isn't putting something in your water that's contaminating your Purity of Essence.
mr shirojan: i am hearing you loud and not so clear.
by mousa67 on Thu Apr 19, 2012 04:11 PM PDTbut that is fine since you are exercising your undeniable right to free speech.
just tell me if you dont mind: why are you so angry?
An Excellent rebuttal to the Puppet Regime of TOMbama
by ShirOjan on Thu Apr 19, 2012 01:21 PM PDTThis [rude] awakening ….
by Bavafa on Thu Apr 19, 2012 01:16 PM PDTShould not come as any surprise if we use history as our guide. The only part that is of some question for me is that if US does sets these policies and posture with the full intend to create and atmosphere in Iran domestic affairs so Iranian people are not so alienated by their own regime to rise up, hence to keep the hostility between these two nations alive.
Examining the US policy vise a vie Iran and Iranian people, one can only conclude that the intention is to weaken the regime but not to the point of failing and that is only a shame.
Iranians however need to stand against the tyranny and an apartheid system both at home and abroad. United for self-rule and independence from foreign political influence/control.
'Hambastegi' is the main key to victory
Mehrdad
Yes and UAE can file a claim in Court if they want, not Iran!
by Esfand Aashena on Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:11 AM PDTEverything is sacred
Hooray to Syria
by Fred on Thu Apr 19, 2012 09:34 AM PDTObama administration has been all over the place with its policy on how to deal with the Islamist Rapists. When Iranian people were on the streets opposing the Islamist Rapists, Obama turned his back on them and now this asinine move which will be opposed by the Iranian people.
The Persian radio service of Iran’s historic and strategic ally, Israel, pointedly refers to these islands as the “Iranian Islands” and dose not use their names without the Iranian prefix.
However, on the issue of Iran’s historic right to her territory, Syria, the ally of the Islamist Rapist Republic (IRR) has always sided with the aggressors.
Hooray to the Islamist Rapists for consistently choosing Iran’s enemies over friend.