by Staff writer, SF
The head of the National Iranian American Council, Trita Parsi, in an editorial he wrote in the Washington Post outlines “five myths about Iran.” In it, he posits that it’s a myth that the Iran nuclear deal only delays the inevitable building of a nuclear weapon by Iran.
Restrictions on advanced centrifuges and other technology to make weapons-grade uranium expires after 10-15 years, but Parsi argues that inspections are enough to tamp down the threat.
Parsi also alleges that killing the Iran nuclear deal will not help the protestors in Iran, but would actually hurt them. However, it is reported that in reality the money received by Iran in sanctions relief went to fund war efforts.
Parsi claims that the Green Movement was a not failure. He argues that it helped usher in an era of liberalization in Iran. He says that Rouhani’s election is proof of that liberalization.
According to reports from human rights groups, more Iranians have been executed under Rouhani than at any time since the Islamic revolution. Iran is involved in wars in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In fact, during the uprising, the the protesters were chanting, “Hardliners, Reformers, game is over.”
American presidents and Congress are frustrated with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the vast network he controls. Parsi attempts to paint this as American leaders provoking Iran and beating a war drum with heavy-handed views aimed squarely at ordinary Iranians.
In reality, Americans view Iran through a much more discerning and educated view. Along with the Iranian people, America has had two years since implementation of the Iran nuclear deal to judge the regime’s actions.
Since then, Iran has been accused of the smuggling of weapons into Yemen and the incitement of a revolution to topple a lawful government and push Saudi Arabia to the brink of war. In fact, missiles recently fired at Riyadh by Houthi rebels in Yemen were examined and deemed to be of Iranian manufacture.
As well, Hezbollah, a military and social organization wields considerable power in Lebanon. It emerged with the help of Iran during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s.
Iran supported of the regime of Bashar al Assad and participated in the civil war that produced the largest refugee crisis since World War II.
Trita Parsi’s article does not acknowledge these actions, just some taken by the Iranian regime, that provide the reason why he will be hard put to find an audience with the American people.
