In a radio interview reported by BBC, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said last week the United States should stay away from the "family fight" in Iran.
The interview has angered student demonstrators in Iran who compared it with official statements in Teheran in defense of the clerics' regime.
[Associated Press reported that the massive demonstrations planned for July 9 had been canceled because of "the huge security clampdown." Iranian sources said however that some demonstrations are in progress in several Iranian cities and in other major world capitals as well.]
"President Khatami was elected ... not in an American kind of election but an election that essentially tapped into the desires of the people," Powell said in his interview with the the Washington radio station WMAL. "The best thing we can do right now is not get in the middle of this family fight too deeply."
Iran on July 4 welcomed Powell's remarks, saying Washington should stay out of an Iranian "family fight" and hoped the United States had learned its lesson not to interfere in Iran's affairs.
President George W Bush shocked the Iranian regime in June when he endorsed the wave the nationwide demonstrations against the country's religious leadership.
"The recent statements of support by your president in our
quest for freedom were of great encouragement to us," wrote Aryo B. Pirouznia representing the demonstrators in a letter to Powell. "His
statements were clear and unmistakable."
"In contrast, your words have caused more damage than
anything the regime could do or say. We expect the
regime to doing everything possible to discourage the
people from any protest on this date."
He was referring to July 9, which was the anniversary of the nationwide demonstrations on July 9, 1999 which resulted in a massive crackdown by the government of Ayatollah Khamenei, the successor of Ayatollah Khomeini.
In Washington, the head of an Iranian organization advocating a secular democracy in Iran disputed the notion that Khatami was popularly elected.
"Before his election, Khatami's candidacy was approved by the Iranian Council of Guardians which acts indeed like a religious Politburo," said Assad Homayoun, President of the Azadegan Foundation. "Moreover he, for the last 6 years has merely acted as a public relations man for the "Supreme Leader" Khamenei. That is why these days you hear in the street of Tehran and other cities: 'death to Khamenei' and 'death to Khatami'."
According to Associated Press, student demonstrators cancelled plans for major protests today because of "the huge security clampdown" Iranians in telephone contact with student organizers in Iran said demonstrations were in progress.
For weeks, students had planned to mark the anniversary, seen as a rallying point for those opposed to the ruling clergy and the deployment of police and vigilantes against pro-democracy demonstrators in Iranian cities last month.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation said in a report that the Bush
administration must increase economic sanctions and press the European Union
and Japan to deny Teheran loans. The report, authored, by James Phillips,
said such pressure could help the pro-democracy forces in Iran.
"Despite the bloody attempts of pro-government vigilante thugs to quell
demonstrations and intimidate the young protesters, the new Iranian
revolutionaries have grown in strength and broadened their demands to
include democratic reforms and the dismantling of the Islamic regime," the
report, entitled "Iran: Revolting Against the Revolution," said. "At this
critical time, the United States and its allies should apply firm and
relentless pressure on Iran through economic sanctions to support the
grassroots movement for reform."
The report rejected the option of dialogue with Iranian President
Mohammed Khatami. Khatami and his supporters are not powerful enough to
introduce change into the Islamic regime, the report said.
Instead, the report said, the United States must tighten economic
sanctions on Iran to "drive home to the regime the costs of repression at
home, terrorism abroad, and Iran's continued efforts to build nuclear
weapons." Washington must also press its European allies, Japan, and
international financial institutions to deny Iran loans, aid, and debt
relief.
Such measures must be sustained, the report said, until Iran "halts its
support of terrorism, puts its nuclear program under strict international
safeguards, and respects the rights of its own people."
The report said the Bush administration has taken a harder line against
Iran than the preceding Clinton administration. President Bill Clinton was
said to have relaxed economic sanctions on Iran in a failed effort to
improve relations with Khatami.
"Firm and relentless pressure is needed to force change in Iran," the
report said. "But the Iranian people, who also demand change, could become a
key ally in helping to dismantle the Axis of Evil."
