Behind the Headlines/October 16

In tonight’s program of Behind the Headlines we will look at the latest economic news of Iran including the continuation of the truck drivers’ strike.

We will also discuss Khamenei’s speech for the Basij militias at the Azadi stadium and find out who is the real target of his threats.

Our guests tonight to discuss these topics are Hassan Etemadi, a member of Secular Democratic Party of Iran, and Amir Hossein Etemadi, a member of the newly found Farashgard opposition group.

Jamshid Chalangi:

The leader of Islamic republic regime has said that Iran faces no problems at all and his officials are quite capable of solving any issues that the Iraniansmight have in their lives.

Hassan Etemadi:

I don’t think Khamenei believes in what he has said. In view of the current situation in the country and the nationwide dissatisfaction with its economy and social problems, we have been witnessing wide spread protests across all classes but it seems Khamenei is trying to ignore all that and deceive the public.

He has himself confessed to the numerous problems that the Iranian people are facing during his recent meeting with the heads of the three organs of power and blamed the sanctions for them.

So, his speech at the Azadi Stadium was mainly propaganda to deceive the publicabout the real roots of their problems.

Amir Hossein Etemadi:

When Khamenei says there are no real problems in Iran we must ask what problems he has in mind.

The fact of the matter is that he and all his top officials know perfectly wellthat the regime is incapable of solving Iranian people’s problems as they are.

Yes, of course the problems of the Iranian people can be solved but not by a regime that has been creating them for the last forty years.

I read in the news that last week the custom police had arrested a number of people who had been trying to smuggle tomatoes and cabbage out of the country because they will sell it in US dollar and make profit out of it! This is the state of Iranian economy and yet Khamenei says the Iranians are facing no problems!

Hassan Etemadi:

These are the issues that our newly found party is addressing and we are telling our people that all their problems are caused by the existence of this regime that does not care about the calamities that they are facing.