Iran makes a u-turn on Syria

[nofurylike]

By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
September 1, 2011

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MI01Ak01.html

After months of tacitly echoing Damascus' dismissal of the growing political opposition as armed gangs and foreign agents, Tehran has adjusted its policy by referring to the "legitimate demands" of protesters and the need for the embattled regime of Bashar al-Assad to respect "people's right to elect and achieve freedom", to quote Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in a recent interview with an Arab network.

Simultaneously, in the wake of last week's European Union sanctions on the elite al-Qods branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, accusing it of providing material support to Damascus to suppress the ongoing revolt, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ramin Mehmanparast, has categorically denied the EU's accusation, branding it "unfounded and aiming at blaming other countries".

-snip-

"Iran's reading of the crisis situation in Syria has turned a leaf toward political realism, that is, the knowledge and realization that Assad's regime may crumble in the not too distant future and Iran should not be hooked to a sinking ship," said a Tehran University political science professor who spoke to the author on the condition of anonymity.

-snip-

As a result, Tehran has nuanced itself rather than come out too strongly against Damascus, thus protecting itself from the charge of hypocrisy and double standards, this while harvesting the gained ability to push for reform in neighboring Bahrain, where the simmering protests have met the iron fist of Saudi-backed official repression. Said otherwise, Iran can now have a greater say in Bahraini affairs, by opting to recognize the legitimacy of the Syrian opposition.

-snip-

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[jaxx]

Iran is all over the place. They're probably scared they are next with people uprising against them. Good info, thanks!

[nofurylike]

(08-31-2011 08:06 AM)jaxx Wrote:  Iran is all over the place. They're probably scared they are next with people uprising against them. Good info, thanks!

i can see what you mean, jaxx!

thank you!

[yowzayowzayowza]

They're quite afeared of further unrest in Iran.

Thx for the posts!!

[nofurylike]

(08-31-2011 08:36 AM)yowzayowzayowza Wrote:  They're quite afeared of further unrest in Iran.

Thx for the posts!!

i see your point, yowza^3. and how it matters in this sudden change of policy!

thank you!

[Cha]

Interesting U turn..thanks for the World news, nofurylike~

[nofurylike]

(09-01-2011 08:32 PM)Cha Wrote:  Interesting U turn..thanks for the World news, nofurylike~

very interesting, ah?
especially reading the above comments about it.

thank you, Cha!