This article recently had been published in iReport
CNN
by
Amir Mohsen Mohamadi
He has made Nowrouz rather bitter than promising, the man whose choice of military attack to our country, Iran, does not get off his desk and whose face determinedly smells gunpowder. There rises the smoke of a suicidal attack in Mazar Sharif from the screen. On the screen, there are Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan El-Muslimin) pulling a woman’s hair, dragging her on the pavement of El-Tahrir and there is a hand which assassins the leader of Tunisian Left Opposition. There is a subtitle reading: “Al-Qaida in Libya” and it keeps being repeated. The left corner of the screen is broken on the border between Syria and Turkey; and the deformed Iraqi children are climbing up Mr. President.
Closer is the only orientation amongst the Iranian oppositions which is making a pitch for the sanctions against the Iranian people at full throttle. They are a few of the Neoliberal activists and rightists who have gained fame or are financially supported and allured with the help of the Iranian mainstream media related to the Republican lobby in the USA. Their main demand is the humanitarian intervention of the super powers in the Middle East and they have done their best to prove that the sanctions have just aimed the Iranian government and have not made the Iranians suffer. On this regard, in the last few weeks they held a highly cost conference in Washington DC. ; having spent several thousand dollars they bet the ranch on the support of the sanctions against the Iranian people.
The pan scandal of this political trend outbursts when the US president, Barak Obama, in his latest video message sent on Nowrouz 1392 (2013) implicitly confesses about the misery the Iranian people are facing, due to the sanctions. Obama declares that “the people of Iran have paid a high and unnecessary price because of [their] leaders’ unwillingness to” resolve the issues on the nuclear activities. Although in his previous messages he had only talked to the Iranian people whilst making allusive remarks on the Iranian regime, this time he aims most directly at the Iranian regime. Obama says on the condition that we come to a nuclear agreement, “the Iranian people will begin to see the benefits of greater trade and ties with other nations, including the United States” … “This is a choice now before the Iranian leaders.”, he continues. “I hope they chose a better path”, he said. “ for the sake of the Iranian people and the sake of the world”. He says there is no good reason for Iranians to be “denied” the opportunities enjoyed by people in other countries. He has held the Iranian people’s hunger and poverty as hostage against the regime.
Although the US president, Barak Obama, on his latest Nowrouz greeting claimed that he was speaking to the Iranian people and the leaders, he took the people as just decorative objects in his statements. His words were rather a diplomatic threat to the Iranian regime than a friendly message.
His last year’s Nowrouz message despite addressing the Iranian people was yet most emphasizing the freedom of communications in Iran, criticizing the severe censorship and suppression of the press and internet in Iran; the statements expressing the ultimate friendliness that could be regarded the most acceptable one amongst his messages in the recent years, although taking one step down from the stage of freedom of demonstrations to the level of the freedom of internet and basic communications such as mobile phones and etc. Obama’s last year speech yet contained a clear message to the Iranian regime. It had a suggestive gesture which seemed rather defeated.
Obama in his Nowrouz message in 2011, directly addressed the Iranian people. He still believed in the movement which took place in the streets and all the attempts and supports the American democratic trend had made to shore up the green movement _ similar to many other political trends in all over the world_ had brought him a glimmer of hope. He talked about hope and defending the freedom of demonstrations and associations. He acknowledged the June 13th protest to be homologous to the one in Al-Tahrir Square. He talked about the political prisoners, the prosecution of the cultural activists, journalists and the violence against the women and children’s rights. He acknowledged Nowrouz as a bridge between the past and the present, bringing the nationalistic facts from the ancient Persian civilization and that the future lies in the youths’ hands. He had ended his speech with a poem by Simin Behbahani.
But in his Nowrouz message in 2010, at the peak of the massacre and suppression of the Iranian people, Obama spoke of extending the hand of friendship, which was sharply reacted towards by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the leader and the president.
Here comes Obama’s Nowrouz message, transcribe in iipdigital website of the US Embassy http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2013/03/20130318144314.html#axzz2OE5NO5QW
Dorood. As you and your families come together to celebrate Nowruz, I want to extend my best wishes on this new spring and new year. Around the world, and here in the United States, you are gathering at the Nowruz table — to give thanks for loved ones, reflect on your blessings and welcome all the possibilities of a new season.
As I have every year as President, I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to the people and leaders of Iran. Since taking office, I have offered the Iranian government an opportunity — if it meets its international obligations, then there could be a new relationship between our two countries, and Iran could begin to return to its rightful place among the community of nations.
I have had no illusions about the difficulty of overcoming decades of mistrust. It will take a serious and sustained effort to resolve the many differences between Iran and the United States. This includes the world’s serious and growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, which threatens peace and security in the region and beyond.
Iran’s leaders say that their nuclear program is for medical research and electricity. To date, however, they have been unable to convince the international community that their nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes. That’s why the world is united in its resolve to address this issue and why Iran is now so isolated. The people of Iran have paid a high and unnecessary price because of your leaders’ unwillingness to address this issue.
As I’ve said all along, the United States prefers to resolve this matter peacefully, diplomatically. Indeed, if — as Iran’s leaders say — their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, then there is a basis for a practical solution. It’s a solution that would give Iran access to peaceful nuclear energy while resolving once and for all the serious questions that the world has about the true nature of the Iranian nuclear program.
The United States, alongside the rest of the international community, is ready to reach such a solution. Now is the time for the Iranian government to take immediate and meaningful steps to reduce tensions and work toward an enduring, long-term settlement of the nuclear issue.
Finding a solution will be no easy task. But if we can, the Iranian people will begin to see the benefits of greater trade and ties with other nations, including the United States. Whereas if the Iranian government continues down its current path, it will only further isolate Iran. This is the choice now before Iran’s leaders.
I hope they choose a better path — for the sake of the Iranian people and for the sake of the world. Because there’s no good reason for Iranians to be denied the opportunities enjoyed by people in other
countries, just as Iranians deserve the same freedoms and rights as people everywhere.
Iran’s isolation isn’t good for the world either. Just as your forbearers enriched the arts and sciences throughout history, all nations would benefit from the talents and creativity of the Iranian people, especially your young people. Every day that you are cut off from us is a day we’re not working together, building together, innovating together — and building a future of peace and prosperity that is at the heart of this holiday.
As you gather with family and friends this Nowruz, many of you will turn to the poet Hafez who wrote: “Plant the tree of friendship that bears the fruit of fulfillment; uproot the sapling of enmity that bears endless suffering.”
As a new spring begins, I remain hopeful that our two countries can move beyond tension. And I will continue to work toward a new day between our nations that bears the fruit of friendship and peace.
Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.
