A Window to the Fatherland/Dr. Nourizadeh/April 27, 2018

We begin tonight’s edition of A Window to the Fatherland with Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh reading one of his poems from the book of his collected works.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

We will continue the program with a discussion with Javad Khadem, who served as former Iranian Housing Minister in the cabinet of the late Shahpoor Bakhtiar.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

Why did you accept to join Bakhtiar’s cabinet, given the circumstances that Iran was facing in the last days of the former regime?

Javad Khadem:

The circumstances you mentioned were such that not many people wanted to help Mr. Bakhtiar. But I was very close to him and wanted to play a role in the success of his cabinet.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

You father was also a comrade of Bakhtiar in the Iran Party. Is this how you got to know him too?

Javad Khadem:

Yes, I was a member of the Iran Party and knew Bakhtiar through it.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

Why didn’t you try to convince the National Front Party not to suspense Bakhtiar’s membership?

Javad Khadem:

Any attempt to do so at the time was futile. Even most of the country’s educated elite had been seduced by Khomeini’s character. So, it was quite a difficult situation. Bakhtiar was of the belief that either we should stand by and let this socio-political frenzy pass by, and be reduced to pebbles, or we should stand on its way. His argument was directed at the National Front Party. The same type of events had happened in the history of Iran many times before. Perhaps if Bakhtiar were not in a hurry to overthrow of the Islamic regime, he would have lived a few more years. But he sacrificed his life in the line of his objectives.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

But they murdered him when he no longer had any money and wished to go and live in Canada.

Javad Khadem:

This regime would eliminate anyone who has the potential of opposing it.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

The regime first assassinated Dr. Boroumand and then murdered Bakhtiar.

Javad Khadem:

Their decision-making bodies knew who must be eliminated. Sadly in the case Mr. Boroumand it was partly his own negligence that led to his murder. I had already warned him several times that the intelligence that we had indicated that the lives of three of us was in danger. I am so pleased that his daughters have continued his path.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

After Bakhtiar’s murder at the hand of the regime’s agents you came to live in London and stopped all your political activities. Then with the rise of the Green Movement you resurfaced and once again we see you have become very active these days. Is there any particular reason for your reemergence in Iran’s opposition activities?

Javad Khadem:

I always used to think that after the failed Nouzeh military coup against the regime it would take one whole generation before any meaningful opposition force can surface. Plus, I was of the belief that there are better people who could take the struggle forward. However, since around six years ago I could clearly see that the regime’s downfall is emerging in the horizon. Today we are in that stage but my worry is who would fill the void when this regime collapses. As such, I have suggested the creation a council for the management of a transitional period. The fact that the Iranian people have not fully entered in this period is an indication that they do not see any viable alternative to this regime. Therefore, if we create a council for transition of power we will have a better chance of replacing this regime.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

What would this council for transition look like?

Javad Khadem:

You have already seen similar organizations amongst the Iraqi and Syrian opposition forces. Any Iranian citizen can be part of this council and they do not necessarily have to be political activists. We can all at least unite around the aim of democracy.

I am certain that the Iranian opposition will eventually attract the support of the Iranian people.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

You had a similar attempt some years ago but it did not succeed in its objectives.

Javad Khadem:

Then the reformist movement within the regime had an active role. But today there is no sign of that movement being alive. The Iranian people have concluded that the Rouhani government is incapable of delivering any reform and this regime has no future.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

So before you used to believe that there was a chance of working with the loyal opposition of the regime among the reformists but now you think the process of collapse of the regime has kick started.

Javad Khadem:

One of the main priorities of a democracy movement is to be prepared to fill in the void that follows the downfall of a dictatorial regime. In the absence of such alternative the country will face anarchy and disintegration.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

What future do you see for the Revolutionary Guard after the fall of the regime?

Javad Khadem:

The Guards are the backbone of this regime. At the moment they can neither remain indifferent nor resort to more crackdowns on the people. They are talking about merging with the national army but the army is on the side of the Iranian people.

Even if the regime tries to pull back from its involvements in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, or attempts to mend fences with its neighbours and the Western countries, it will fail. It has entered a one-way path towards collapse and the link between the inside and outside opposition forces of Iran has added to its fears and faster disintegration.
It may even decide to enter a dialogue with the council for transition. We neither want a war nor have any desire to turn our country into another Syria.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

Stay with us for this edition of A Window to the Fatherland and share it with your family and friends.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*