Mousavi: The Nation is not told How Dangerous the Situation Is

Following the passage and implementation of a new round of sanctions against Iran and pursuant to the rise of new foreign threats against the country, Mir-Hossein Mousavi issued a statement in which he examined the domestic dimension of the new sanctions on the sensitive conditions facing the country and the region and proposed solutions out of this situation. “The fate of some countries in the region that fell into the trap of arrogant and empty remarks by their officials and found themselves in dark and pitiable conditions should be in front of all of us,” he warned.

Pointing to the recent Security Council sanctions and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s response, Mousavi said, “To say that this resolution is like a used napkin will not reduce the destructive impact of hyped-up and deceitful policies of the administration. Insulting and cursing other countries may have domestic consumption for those who have little awareness, but in the real world out there this does nothing other than make the situation worse.”

“It is as clear as daylight to me that this resolution will impact the security and economy of our country. It will reduce our gross domestic production, will increase our unemployment, will add to people’s daily problems, will widen the gap between us and other developing countries around the world particularly our competing neighboring countries, and will put the final nail in the coffin of the country’s twenty-year vision plan. Which reasonable mind does not know that after the latest sanctions our country has not become more vulnerable and isolated than before?” Mousavi openly asked.

In his statement Mousavi says that the very fist step that the administration can take to reduce the threats facing the country is for officials to engage in honest dialog with the public. “People have the right to know the nature of the resolution and sanctions that are on their way,” he wrote. “They must know what impact the resolution will have on their food table, on unemployment, inflation, the country’s development, etc.”

In another part of the statement Mousavi specifically says that if people are expected to battle the rising unwanted crisis, it is important that their trust be won, which can only be attained through honesty and sincerity and straight talk.

It should be noted that despite the picture that is painted by government officials, some internal news bulletins belonging to the military and security agencies talk of the seriousness of recent developments and military threats against the country.

For example, one internal bulleting of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) mentioned the movement of a second US aircraft carrier towards the Persian Gulf and wrote, “USS Truman will be the second US aircraft carrier that will be moving to Iranian shores. News sources have said that based on decisions, Washington intends to position 56 of its aircraft carriers near Iranian shores this year, while British and French forces will be added to these as well.”

In another part of the statement Mousavi says that existing conditions demand that the number of advisors to the nuclear issue be expanded, and adds, “What is wrong in allowing the Majlis to approve the policies and decisions regarding the nuclear issue, just as was done for the US hostages issue? Why must some individuals make decisions in secret over issues that determine the destiny of the nation?”

Another solution that he proposes is the use of referendum, which is in the constitution. “Shouldn’t the opinion of the public be acquired on sensitive issues?” Mousavi asks.

The statement goes a step further and asks, “Is it not questionable that a former president who enjoys international respect is denied an exit permit while he can use an international forum to defend the rights of the [Iranian] nation? Who does not know that most effective managers and professionals have been moved to the sidelines? These realities raise serious doubts.”

Mousavi mentions Rafsanjani, Khatami and Rowhani by name to say that their expertise and experience have been deliberately pushed aside, which need not be the case.

The statement goes on to say that the foreign threat is greater at a time when there is a gap between the nation and the regime. Mousavi also mentions his earlier statement number 17 which contains 5 specific solutions to get out of the current crisis, which he lists exist because of electoral fraud, the post-election crackdown, corruption, mismanagement, lies, bad economic policies, among others.

The five solutions he mentions are: For the administration, the legislative branch and the judiciary to accept responsibility for their actions that have caused the current state of affairs, passage of new transparent elections laws, release of all political prisoners and their rehabilitation, freedom of press and lifting of the ban on banned publications, and, the recognition of people’s right of assembly and formation of political parties and groups.

Mousavi punctuated his statement by arguing that, “an administration that was illegitimate, oppressive and at war with its people could not withstand foreign pressure. Instead, it would either give concessions to foreigners or take the country to the brink of collapse.”

The statement also touches on a sensitive topic of the role of the IRGC in the post-election crackdown and writes, “The Guards today are involved in questionable issues. On one hand, their arms are pointing at the public instead of the enemy, and they have a leading role in the crackdown, arrests, and interrogation of political groups and dissidents while on the other hand they are involved in an unbelievable involvement in economic issues. The return of the Guards to their original mission will most certainly revive respect for its proud role in the defense of the country and at the same time reduce the dangers caused by evil wishers, while also impact the economic problems facing the country.” Mousavi wrote that “a review of the role of the Guards and the Basij should be the call of any group or faction,” and added that a force that was concerned about the fluctuating value of the Dollar, of intervening in banking affairs and the stock market, of acquiring import and export contracts, etc “could not be trusted to provide security to the country or the revolution.” He even predicted that if the IRGC’s current role continued, “we would be witnessing its defense of companies, stocks, financial institutions instead of defending the nation and the country.”

In the last paragraphs of the statement Mousavi warns that, “the goal of the sanctions is not simply to bring the administration to its knees. Events that led to the 1953 coup and the bitter outcome in Iraq and Afghanistan are apparent to us and we have to be doubly aware that a section of the government may even see its own survival tied to the continuation of this crisis and even the encouragement of the enemy to engage in a military attack.”

Finally, Mousavi says that the Green Movement must put resistance against foreign threats and aggression on its agenda side by side with its other demands.