Behind the Headlines/February 19

Today we look at the pre conditions that led to the so-called Islamic revolution in Iran and ask if foreign powers had any role in its creation.

Javad Zarif has publicly said that both the Iranian people and the regime he represents are the passengers of the same boat. We will find out if he is right, give the wide gap that exists between the interests of the Iranian people and those of the regime that rule over them with force.

Our gusts tonight to discuss these issues are Alan Toufiqi and Khosrow Forouhar.

Alan Toufiqi:

It all depends from what angle Mr Zarif looks at the situation in Iran. He looks upon himself as the foreign minister of the regime and makes such statement. But the truth is that forty years of gap exists between our nation a regime.

Naturally under the current circumstances it is impossible to do a survey in Iran and find out how the people view the regime but when you look at the widespread protests of the many sections of the society, the commons sense tells us that the majority of the Iranian people are dissatisfied with the regime and do not believe it can ever provide them with their social and economic demands.

Khosrow Forouhar:

I wish to offer my condolences to the Iranian people for having lost their country since the 1979 revolution.

This regime has been killing our people as a routine policy since its inception and generation after generation have become its victims.

Under this regime the Iranian people are not equal human beings. They are divided on the issues of religion, gender,class and allegiance to the regime.

Just looking at the millions of people who have been killed or fled the country since this regime has been establishedshould tell us if we and Mr Zarif and his regime are the passengers of the same boat or not.