My latest piece on Iran in Tehran Bureau

I wrote this piece for Tehran Bureau lately and they published it. My great friend Arash helped me with edit and re-write and I like the final outcome. It gives a good view on Iran’s current foreign minister who I know him very well since he was Iran envoy to IAEA.

Image by IAEA Imagebank via Flickr

I followed his career and ambitions and I think he might be the new favorite on Ayatollah Khamenei, supreme leader in Iran. Although in light of recent events and the attack on UK embassy in Tehran, I cannot imagine how any top diplomat could survive the embaressment.

I leave you a part of story here and you can read the rest in the given URL at the end.

Salehi was never fully accepted, particularly by Hassan Rowhani, a political insider who was chief negotiator with Europe for Iran’s nuclear program and a member of the Supreme National Security Council, which coordinates nuclear policy under the Supreme Leader’s guidance. Rowhani derisively referred to Salehi as a “foreigner” because of his birth in Karbala, Iraq, years of study at the American University of Beirut, and ability to speak fluent Arabic.

Salehi has stated that he felt “cut off from the team” during his tenure as IAEA envoy. After writing a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in which he articulated his concerns, he left the country for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he worked on education programs as deputy secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (now the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) from 2007 to 2009.

In 2009, Ahmadinejad brought Salehi back to head Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, which is the primary body responsible for operating and regulating nuclear energy activities around the country.

Ahmadinejad has championed the development of Iran’s nuclear program and it thus seemed odd that Salehi would reenter Iranian politics at his hands and in such a position. Aside from having typically filled key posts with friends and allies, Ahmadinejad has evinced a particular disdain for those who served in the administration of the reformist Khatami. However, one of the top engineers at the Isfahan nuclear facility observed, “People who work on the nuclear program are not political and are not prone to make trouble through partisan in-fighting.”

 

Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/12/dispatch-ali-akbar-salehi-irans-foreign-minister-and-future-president.html#ixzz1fLax5IJZ

the differences; Hillary in Libya

I was watching whole Hillary Clinton trip to Libya photos, the first since Qaddafi been ousted. It was nice to see the differences. the last time the US State secretary went to Libya, it was Qaddafi and Condi Rice was on a mission to deal with the devil. Neo cons wanted to portray some tough US faces but at the same time they were so weak against qaddafi and kim jung il. Now things change and now US secretary of state goes to a free land. Land of courageous men and women of Libya who fought for their freedom. That is a big difference.

Those moments of not finding the right word

I have to admit it now, it is enough of ups and downs. It has been now four years that I am aware of my children diagnosis, Autism. One is high functioning and the other one more severe, in face he is not verbal yet. We have been through many things and we still do but something happened which made me more lets say, complicated.

I always wanted to be a good father. Not just good, great one. One that I never had. My father is a man twisted with his pride and ego and even he is a kind man, he never could see beyond his pride so he never had a connection with me. That connection was lost long long ago and still missing and I am not sure even if comes back one day. When I found out about my children diagnosis, all those dreasm were kind of gone. Feeling that I might never have that connection with them. It was really hurtful. But now my older son goes to school and he is doing good. One of the things that we do every day is that I come home and together, me and my son, will take our dog out for a walk. We, me and my wide, do lots of trainings with my son on how to speak, how to express and how to share and autistic children have a problem with tone and voice and also how deal with other people. Therefore there are many situations that they get bullied or hurt by the others.

Me and My oldest son.

We ask our son usually to tell us everything about his day with more details as he could. Usually he tells about general thing with no real specific but yesterday he told me about a child in the school who was in his words “Unkind, not nice” to him and was intimidating him by a stick and also hit him in the face. I wanted to do something but I did not know what. There was a sense of anger in the beginning and then the rush and heat of blood to my face. Then I tried to more and asked my son more detailed questions. I asked him did you tell to your teacher?

“No.“

“Did you tell any one else in the school?“

“No.“

What did you do then?

“I poited my finger and told him: Don’t you dare.“

and what happened after?

“He let me alone and left.”

Then I felt very twisted. There are things to be done and mails to be send and the meetings to be held. But he defended himself in a very civilized way. Not by hitting and screaming as he used to. It was a great progress. And he made a nice connection with me and shared it to me as the way it was and it felt so good. I never had such a relation with my father. Here is the complication part.

I was hurt and angry for why they let him in the school to be subject of such aggression while they know his special needs. I felt good about his progress. I felt awesome that he could share himself and then I was sad that I never had such a relation with my father and then I was happy to be such a father for my son.

Last night when I wanted to go to sleep, I told myself this:”No matter how bad things might be in life or in wrong direction, there is always something to cheer you up and fill you with joy and happiness.” I told this sentence to myself and cried myself to sleep. Not knowing if I am happy or sad. Then next day I told my wife about it and I will talk to school special education head about this. But still, this is a very complicated case.

Be happy always and be kind to other. Life is not worth having bad feelings at all.

NBC and Ann Curry Red Carpet Event for Ahmadinejad

There was a very disturbing report on NBC from Tehran. Ann Curry some how finds access to record daily work and life of Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Surely NBC finds it very interesting to get such highly restricted access and it is very hard to debate such documented pack of lies but at least we have to use means necessary to warn them about the trap they are in.

Upon the starting point, Ann Curry puts on narration on Ahmadinejad daily work out and exercise and puts his jogging as “Rocky Style”. All the sources close to Ahmadinejad know that he is not a man of exercise, he never does that but this scenario has been calculated and shaped in detail to put a ordinary human face to Ahmadinejad who his comments and provocative positions had been know for last six years.

Then the report claims that Ahmadinejad goes to his office to check the local news papers. Dear Ann Curry, there are no free, objective and independent paper in Iran for last seven years. Apart from that, there is a team in presidential office which start working very early by 3:00 o’clock every morning. They monitor all press and pack it in 20 pages so it could be faxed to president by 6:30 in the morning. President never sees any paper in his office. Specially Ahmadinejad whom according to his close friends “never reads a paper and never uses internet”.

And the bizarre thing happens on show off trips. Ann Curry asks Ahmadinejad: “Why you are in a poor neighborhood in Iran”? as if Ann knows all neighborhoods there, but then Ahmadinejad replies: “I want well being for all people, every where.” Logically and professionally, Ann should ask right away: “so why you want to wipe some people off the map of the earth?” or: “What about Neda who was killed right in front of camera and there was not even a single legal proceeding to find her killer who obviously runs around free?”

But no. Ann Curry and NBC and busy with their red carpet for Ahmadinejad. I would like to believe it was a miscalculation on network and what they have done but it could be very naive also. Surely Ann and NBC know that Ahmadinejad tries to prepare his arrival to NY for UN Assembly and surely he is planning to win the hearts and minds for release of two US citizen in Iran who are in jail.

NBC joins Ahmadinejad to a best piece of propaganda ever in recent history of Iran. As if Nazis were trying to show that Hitler was vegetarian. A malicious lie which was made up to put a human face on a mass murderer.

I am happy that I am not watching NBC and I am so sorry that pack of lies like this, well crafted and made, fed to American people. so sad to watch NBC is doing something for Ahmadinejad who no one could possibly do in Iran.

Shame on you all NBC network. Shame on you all. You are disgrace to the world of journalism.

See the video here.

The price of Syria for Iran

This is the text of my last article for Die Zeit. I tried to see the fate of Syria and how Iran might think about cutting a deal over the change which is under way. Iranian delegation even met in Paris with Syrian opposition. The fact is, if you want Syria go, Iran should let syria go.

Es war eine Zäsur in der iranischen Außenpolitik: Kürzlich mischte sich Irans geistlicher Führer Ajatollah Ali Chamenei mit einer bemerkenswerten Aussage in die aktuellen Entwicklungen der arabischen Welt ein. Chamenei, der das letzte Wort im Staate hat, riet den für ihre Rechte eintretenden Demonstranten: "Lasst nicht zu, dass der Westen die Umbrüche und Ereignisse im Mittleren Osten und Nordafrika für sich beansprucht." Damit gab er sein Plazet für Veränderungen in der Außenpolitik Teherans.

Read the rest here or click on the link below:

http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2011-09/iran-syrien

Technorati Tags: Iran,Syria,deal,Cost,Change,Green movement

My latest piece on Iran in Die Zeit

Here is my latest article in Iran in Die Zeit. I thank my friend in Die Zeit for such a nice translation and hereby ask you to read it and let me know what you think. Thank  you.

Die Ära Ahmadineschad geht zu Ende

Irans Präsident ist beim obersten religiösen Führer Chamenei in Ungnade gefallen. Einen möglichen Nachfolger für Mahmud Ahmadineschad gibt es schon. (von Kambiz Tavana)

© Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

Der iranische Präsident Mahmud Ahmadineschad hält eine Rede unter einem Plakat des geistlichen Führers Ajatollah Said Ali Chamenei.

In der Welt des Ajatollah Said Ali Chamenei gibt es keine Grautöne. Der geistliche und politische Führer des Iran kennt nur Schwarz und Weiß, Verlierer und Gewinner. Lange Zeit zählte Präsident Mahmud Ahmadineschad in diesem Weltbild zu den Gewinnern. Noch im letzten Jahr antwortete Chamenei auf die Frage, was ihm an Ahmadineschad so gut gefalle: “Es ist die erste Regierung, die die Rolle der obersten Führung und seiner Autorität nicht infrage stellt, und die erste Regierung, mit der ich mich wohlfühle.”

Follow the rest here in this link:

http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2011-07/iran-konflikt-ahmadineschad-chamenei

Demand it

There was a talk about responsibility with some one to do a certain job. In cases like this, there are some preconditions on our mind. Basically in every stage, we think the pre stages are done and passed for sure. The one who drives a car probably has a driving license and knows how to drive. But how do we know? Mostly we give the benefit of the doubt but when it is a matter of life and death or sensitive cases, precaution required instantly.

Here we are with a simple issue that gets complicated for no reason but incompetent and inadequate responsibility and there is no room for lenience or tolerance.

And now, run and never return.

Teherans Angst vor der trotzigen Opposition

Iran ein Jahr nach der umstrittenen Präsidentenwahl: Der Widerstand gegen das Regime ist ungebrochen – auch, weil die Opposition Anhänger im Regierungslager hat. By: kambiz tavana

 

Fast ein Jahr ist die umstrittene Präsidentschaftswahl in Iran her. Sie hat die dortigen Verhältnisse komplizierter gemacht als sie es je waren – und die Geschichte ist noch nicht zu Ende. Tatsächlich wird die politische Lage in Iran schwieriger, je länger die Kontroverse andauert.

Was ist aus der Grünen Bewegung geworden? Was aus den Protesten gegen das iranische Regime, die die Welt vor rund einem Jahr über Wochen in Atem hielt? Was waren und sind die Besonderheiten der Oppositionsbewegung in Iran? Zunächst muss betont werden, dass die Grüne Bewegung von Anfang an für sich selbst stand. Sie hatte keine Vorbilder und ist mit anderen Protestbewegungen kaum zu vergleichen – zu einzigartig sind die Umstände in Iran.

 

Read the rest here.

 

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