Israel Matzav

Iran cracking?

A leading analyst on Iran claims that many Iranian politicians now believe that Iran must give up on its nuclear enrichment program altogether.

Menashe Amir, who for many years served as manager of Israel Radio's Farsi broadcasts, said that while Iran appears on the surface to be united in its nuclear drive, "there is a debate in Iran. [Some] say: We are being offered a fantastic, generous incentives package. Let's accept it...we cannot withstand the international pressure. The sanctions are widening, and the danger of a US or Israeli attack is growing. Let's not miss this chance...We'll accept it, we'll fold for now, we'll wait until the storm passes and until international conditions change. Under the current conditions we cannot continue with the nuclear plans.'"

Among Iranian politicians who hold this opinion, Amir said, are former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, parliament speaker and former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, and former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rouhani.

Amir added that during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, there was a period when Arab nations offered Iran $50 billion in exchange for the country's agreement to a cease-fire with Iraq. Iran refused, continued the war and "ended up losing both the war and the $50 billion." According to Amir, there are voices in Iran today saying "Let's not repeat this mistake."

"This is the message I am getting from Iran," Amir said, "and I have a feeling that the atmosphere in Iran today is [similar to] the atmosphere before the cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq war."

I hope and pray that he is right. But until that is confirmed and carved in stone, we must continue to act as if Iran is continuing to enrich. Because it is.

But here is more evidence that Amir may be right.

More than 1,200 Kiyan Tire factory workers began their 5th day of strike over their unpaid salaries. This is the second time in a year that they have walked out over pay disputes.

The workers went on strike on April 12 for the first time when the hand picked management called in the suppressive State Security Force (SSF) – mullahs' suppressive police – to crush their demonstration. A number of the workers were arrested in that incident.

The mullahs' inhuman regime, fearing the spread of the move, rushed hundreds of the State Security Forces (SSF) – mullahs' suppressive police -- agents to the scene to suppress the strikers. However, the local residents and youths clashed with the SSF units in support of the striking workers. They threw stones and sticks at the security forces.

The government of Iran cannot pay its bills with oil at more than $130 per barrel. Hmmm. And its citizens are rioting.

The State Security Forces (SSF) – mullahs' suppressive police- attacked a group of young people in a local park in Qods city (Ghale-Hassan Khan), a new small town in southwestern Tehran, beating them viciously with chains and batons on Sunday, July 20. There were 10 SSF agents along with 3 vehicles and 4 motorcycles participating in this crackdown, reported an eyewitness.

After brutally beating the young people, the SSF detained and transferred them to an unknown location.

The mullahs' regime is faced with popular uprisings and growing resistance at home as well as ever increasing international isolation. To survive, it has turned into more suppressive measures against youths under the pretext of "combating thugs and hooligans." Waves of street arrests, torture and imprisonment are employed to intimidate various sectors of the society such as youths, women, students and workers.

Iran's cracking? We can only hope and pray.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:35 PM