Behind the Headlines/June 25, 2018

Jamshid Chalangi:

In tonight’s program of Behind the Headlines:

Anti-regime street protests continue in many Iranian cities while in Tehran the bazzari merchants condemn the rapid rise in prices and the free fall of Iranian Rial against US dollar;

Iran’s economy is now at its weakest state and dependent on foreign affairs and developments, while the country’s justice system fails to tackle the widespread corruption;

Our guests tonight to discuss these topics are Ghassem Shole Sadee and Mrs. Nahid Farhad.

Ghassem Shole Sadee:

In the past oil acted like a weapon in the hands of its producers in the world of politics. But nowadays Mr. Khamenei is asking the Europeans to give him a guarantee that they will continue to buy it from Iran.

During the time of Dr. Mossadeq he had put forward a plan for Iran’s economy to be independent of its oil revenue. However, none of the oil producing countries dare suggest such plan any more. They beg the buyers to buy their oil.

Today 10,000 Iranian Rials to one dollar means our national currency has lost its value by 1500 percent since the pre-revolution time and a major factor for this is our foreign policy.

Previously the bazaar fed the clerical establishment in Iran but today the mullahs have become merchants and dealers themselves and corruption is rife among their ranks.

That is why the bazaaris are now protesting as they see their rivals have taken over the economy but is unable to run it for the general benefit of the nation and the economy.

I have suggested that the government should resign and pave the way for new elections and a new Majles where they truly represent the power of the Iranian people and listen to their demands.

We need to hold a referendum and the leaders of the Islamic republic regime must apologize to our people for denying them of their rights and the prosperity and peace that they deserve.

It is the only way that will prevent the disintegration of our country as then our people will be ruling over themselves and do not need any foreign country to tell them what they want and need.