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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 continue tonight’s program with talking to our dear guest of every Thursday Dr. Mohsen Sazegara, who would share with us his expert views about the news and current affairs of Iran and theMiddle East region.
The story of the disappearance of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoogi has become even more complicated as the Turkish daily Sabah has claimed that 15Saudi government agents have killed him. What do we know about what has really happened to him?
Dr. Mohsen Sazegara:
Naturally I have no specific information about what really has happened and my knowledge on this issue is limited to what the US media and intelligence sources havebeen publishing.
The American media have put a lot of pressure on President Trump to hold the Saudi government accountable and Trump has had a telephone conversation with the Saudi authorities about it.
Also, a number of US Senators have called on the Saudis to come clean of this rather sad saga.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Nowadays some people are killed by contract killers for a mere sum of 1000 dollars and it would be stupid of the Saudis to send 15 “agents” to Turkey to kill a journalist who has entered their consulate building!
In Iran the FATF has finally been accepted by the Majles and rumor has it thatKhamenei’s letter of agreement of the bill to Larijani has played a role in its passing.
Dr. Mohsen Sazegara:
I am not sure about a letter by Khamenei but there has been a telephone call from him to Larijani to that effect.
The last time Khamenei sent a letter to the Majles speaker to interfere in its business it caused a controversy.
The argument within the regime about the need to join the FAFT has been that not to do so will affect the trade links with the Russians and the Chinese as the US economic sanctions get even harsher in the coming days.
MP Mahmoud Sadeghi has put it simply by saying that the regime’s acceptance of the FAFT has been due to “the will of the establishment”, which should be read as the will of Khamenei.
The move has had its opponents too, which are the Revolutionary Guards and the security forces that act as the go between with terrorist organizations andtheir money laundering business, and all those within the regime who will lose their interests.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
The Europeans have been trying to create an alternative SWIFT to facilitate trade links with Iran by bypassing the US sanctions.
Dr. Mohsen Sazegara:
I think the US has realized the aim of reducing Iran’s oil exports to zero is not achievable and at the same time will increase the price of oil, which Washington objects. Therefore the US might be flexible towards this move by the EU.
