The war between and rages, but Iran AbbasProfessor of History and Political Science, Head of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University and author, maintains his temper.
His voice on the other end of the telephone line in California sounds steady as he analyzes developments for “Step”. Criticist of the Iranian regime, he believes that the only solution to Iran is political rather than military, while distinguishing Iran’s women for their power against the terrorism of the regime – “You Greeks know from the junta of the colonels what does a regime terrorism mean. “ He says.
Milan studied in California in the 1960s and later worked at the University of Tehran. The Shah’s regime imprisoned him as a “subversive element” in the infamous Evin prison. And in 1987 the theocratic regime accused him of being a CIA agent and forced him to leave Iran. He has not returned since then.
Is the Iranian regime in collapse? Because it is often described as corrupt and disgusting to its citizens.
“The overwhelming majority of Iranians, 80%-90%, hated the regime before the war. The regime is actually on the brink of collapse. But, you know, the collapsing regimes manage to survive, unless there is a viable alternative and appropriate international conditions or if the resources of the regime are completely exhausted to oppress the people. I don’t know how soon it will happen, but I think this regime already belongs to history. “
In 1979 people hoped that this regime would bring democracy to Iran.
“This was the promise, it was not just hope. In the last month before returning to Iran, Khomeini promised a secularized democracy in the model of the French Republic. And then withdrew. And for forty -five years now the regime is a dogmatic theocracy. “
“Many believe that Iran’s greatest enemy is the regime itself.”
Historically, the Iranian regime has ever been in such a difficult position as it is today?
“Not this is because it has lost the support of the people. In 1979 he had popular support, had inherited a very viable economy, had $ 25 billion in stocks outside Iran, nearly 100 billion in today’s money. It was wasting them all chasing outrageous ideas, such as the creation of a Shiite Empire and the destruction of Israel. And every time he tried another madness, he lost the support of another part of the population. “
Do Iranians perceive Israel’s attack as an attack on the country or the regime?
“The landscape is divided. Many believe that Iran’s greatest enemy is the regime itself. For example, famous Iranian filmmakers, such as Jafar Panahi, recently stated clearly: Not in war, not in uranium enrichment, not in the regime. The message is clear: the people do not want war, they do not want the regime and does not want the stupid nuclear program that will destroy the country. The regime pretends to want uranium enrichment, but not the bomb. If you don’t want it, then why do you want uranium enrichment? “
They claim to be for peaceful purposes.
“These are nonsense. If they wanted a peaceful program, let them follow the South Korean model, not the north. South Korea has renounced the enrichment of uranium so as not to create suspicions that it wants to create an atomic bomb. And instead, she developed her technology. Iran didn’t really want a peaceful program. At the same time, Iran threatens Israel. But Israel was not going to wait passively. It will hit when Iran is weaker – and that’s exactly what happened now. The Iranian regime is cut off from global reality. Instead of negotiating seriously, he waited too long. “
“OR The solution is political, it is the return of democracy to Iran, not the military intervention »
Will Tehran recede as losses increase?
“The regime says ‘we will destroy America’, but I think they want negotiation. They don’t want to say “tradition”, but it’s about it. “
Israel’s goal is to change regime in Iran?
“I do not know the intentions of Netanyahu, I believe that his minimum goal is to destroy Iranian nuclear infrastructure and perhaps the maximum regime. But I believe that the solution is political, it is the return of democracy to Iran, not the military intervention. “
You pay particular attention to the power of Iran’s women for their role in changing the regime.
“They are the strongest! When the history of the regime is written, it will be shown that they have cracked it. Women, by peaceful means, with the right to choose what to wear, have overthrew the climate of terrorism. “
And those in the European Left say that “is it your right to wear a headscarf”?
“The same goes for anyone who doesn’t want to. To say that the Iranian regime has the right to impose clothing and that this is progressive is ridiculous. “
“Erdogan condemned Israel, but Turkey does not want a strong Iran”
How do you judge the allies of Iran, Russia and China?
“They see that Iran loses. They have already bet on Saudi Arabia. With it, China signed the largest agreement, not with Iran. “
Can Pakistan or Turkey help Iran?
“Only at the rhetoric level. Erdogan has condemned Israel, but Turkey does not want a strong Iran. He wants a weak Iran to dominate the area herself. “
There are already discussions about the “next day” in Iran. Will the Pachlavi family of overthrow of the Shah have a role?
“They certainly have a role. They have support, especially outside Iran. They have political capital, but not a monopoly. But the key is the people inside. “
What do you think about Trump?
“We don’t know his intentions. Maybe he just wants to end the nuclear program, perhaps a change of regime. But he does not want a military involvement. If the US is involved, it will be at the end of the conflict, symbolically. However, the risk of Iran’s reaction is real. “
Are you optimistic about developments?
“I do not believe that Iran can move on to a total war. It does not have the potential. If it does, the US will intervene and be destroyed. The regime, however, does not care about his people. He has placed centrifugation facilities in residential areas. “
