Iran Revolution June 15 photo: Randy Thomas.org
According to posts on Twitter as this morning, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former president of Iran who is the Chairman of the Assembly of Experts (a committee which oversees the removal of the Ayatollah), has the army and the Revolutionary Guards on his side, he is allowing the Guards to choose between the people and the regime. Additionally, the silence from Rafsanjani since the election is said to be of import – apparently a rift between Khomeini and Rafsanjani has been fermenting for the past 10 years, and is now coming to a head as Iranian State TV (not confirmed) is reporting that 30% of the nation’s workers are out today. Tweets coming from Iran indicate that protestors are exhorting businesses to close and shut down the government. Additionally, Mousavi is said to have called for nationwide protests on Thursday – this coupled with the beginning strike, and the real possibility that Khomeini and Ahmadinejad will be removed, is giving hope to those tweeters who are risking their lives for self-determination in government.
There are those on Twitter, specifically coming from Iran that are tweeting that the U.S. and U.K. are responsible for the coup in Iran (as if it is a foregone conclusion), that the foreign governments are controlling Twitter – the Tweeter, antifacista245, also notes that a puppet regime is currently being installed in Tehran – other Tweeters we’re quick to point out that this particular poster was an “agent of the Iranian government”.
The desperation in the posts from Antifacista, coupled with reports from the Times, UK and Eurasiannet.org indicate that Khomeini and Ahmadinijad’s removal by Rafsanjani is imminent. That said, the clerics are not sure, at this point, who would replace the current Supreme Leader, which is why no decision has yet been finalized. However, events are moving so rapidly, the decision to remove the current government may be taken out of the hands of the clerics, therefore, they would best be involved. From both Tweets and Eurasianet.org
One of the country’s highest-ranking clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri has declared three days of mourning for those who have died in street protests. Grand Ayatollah Montazeri’s declaration could bring thousands of Tehran residents back out into the streets starting on June 24.
Several Factors to consider, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s population is primarily made up of its youth: 70% of the nation is under the age of 30, and few were even born when Khomeini, who had been exiled in France, was returned to Iran with the help of meddling foreign parties (the U.S. under the administration of the very naive Jimmy Carter, for one). The Persian’s, are cosmopolitan and technologically savvy, they are able to report in real time, regardless of the risks associated with doing so, on events as they happen in the street – they are dedicated to seeing the end of this regime.
Of special interest, up until several days ago, the U.S. Administration was planning to engage the Iranian Government, even after the protests had begun,, however, there has been silence on the subject for the past three days. This may go towards an acknowlegement that change in Iran is immiment. Obama will be holding a press conference today at noon on the subject.
The American Press is now weighing in on the perceived mistakes made by the administration: From the Los Angeles Times: a stunning op-ed piece entitled: “Obama’s Iran Policy is a Bomb” speaks to the problems facing Obama and his decision to continue to meet with the Iranian rulers – depending on the outcome of this revolution in Iran (and that outcome looks to be imminent and successful), Obama is caught between a rock and hard place. One has to understand that the President, although surrounded by experts, has little to no experience in government, and this naiveté, may prove to be problematic, when dealing with foreign policy and/or national security decisions. One can only hope that unlike Jimmy Carter, the president most associated with Obama by comparison, Obama will be looking towards the best interests of the United States as well as nations whose citizens would call for freedom – putting aside his Progressive Ideology for the greater good. The fact that the Obama was still planning on meeting with embattled Iranian administration up until this past week, may give rest to any rumors that the
U.S. was involved in any way with the revolution taking place.
The Iranian people are in charge of their own destiny, they are using what they can to get information out of their country and let the world know what is taking place, it will be a free Republic of Iran within a week; that said, an Iran that is still controlled by powerful clerics, which, one can only hope, are more inclined to work with their neighbors in order to bring a bit of peace to that region.
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