Behind the Headlines/April 29

Jamshid Chalangi:

In tonight’s program we will look at the latest news of Iran and the Middle East region and the consequences of the recent devastating flood in Iran, as well as the plight of the soldiers of the war with Iraq.

We will also look at the change of commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after the US government has designated the force as a foreign terrorist organisation and find out how this development can affect the future of US-Iran relations.

Our guest tonight is Mr Abdul Rasoul Mortazavi who is a war veteran with serious life injuries.

We begin by asking him why Iran had to continue the 8 years war with Iraq to sustain billions of dollars of damage and hundreds of thousands of victims and yet people like him are now denied basic medical help and have been protesting against the government.

Abdul Rasoul Mortazavi:

Our protests are very natural when you see that our country is ruled by a dictatorial regime and yet we have given so many martyrs to uphold many moral values for our nation.

This regime has betrayed all those human and moral values that we were fighting for and those families who have lost a loved one in that war naturally have good and enough reasons to protest against this regime and its policies.

We oppose this idea of one person calling himself the supreme leader and create this hallow circle of divinity around himself and expect the entire nation to praise and obey him as if he is God or a prophet.

Our martyrs have taught us that we must not fear this type of dictatorial behaviour and must stand up against it and we will certainly continue in their path.

I joined the Basis when I was only 17 and later went to the war front and after the war became a member of theRevolutionary Guard but resigned from it in protest.

I believe any Iranian who cares for their country must stand up against this regime.