Behind the Headlines/April 10

Jamshid Chalangi:

In tonight’s program we will look at why US President Donald Trump has designated the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation.

It is the first time the US has labelled another nation’s military force as a terrorist organisation.

However, the Guards claim that they have been involved in reconstruction of Iran after the war with Iraq and are protecting Iran’s borders.

We will speak to our guests Ardavan Rouzbeh and Maysam Mehrani about this issue and other Iranian news including the on-going flood disaster.

Ardavan Rouzbeh:        

When we read about the flood disaster in Iran the main question that crosses our minds is how prepared the government has been to face it and help our people.

However, it has now become clear that our country has been suffering from lack of crisis management for many decades to face earthquakes and flood. Our social forces and the fabric of the societyhave been hit by the lack of national unity, which is a direct result of the regime’s policies.

As long as we do not have this national unity and a central management to control these disaster we will suffer at the hands of nature.

Maysam Mehrani:

The least we can do at this time of national crisis is to offer our help to its victims.

However, I believe the decision by the US to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group is justified as the actions of this force over the last forty years have done more damage to our nation than all the natural disasters that have hit Iran put together during the same period.

We must not forget how the Guards’ interference in Iran’s economy has brought so many problems for our nation. In a way the Guards have taken our nation hostage to their political, military and intelligence power and our people have been living under their suppression without having a chance to live in peace and freedom.