The Latest from Iran (11 April): Checking In

Pictured: Reformist leader Feizollah Arab Sorkhi (pictured) has returned to Evin Prison after his temporary release for Iranian New Year.

1700 GMT: Abuse Watch. A Street Journalist posts Bahareh Maghami's account of her rape in prison.

Iran: A List of 107 Killed in Post-Election Violence
Iran: The Green Movement in Transition (Rafat)
The Latest from Iran (10 April): Look Over There!

1630 GMT: The Inflation Game --- Pick a Number. The Iranian Government's attempt to ease economic worries by declaring a halving of inflation to 10.8% is coming under more pressure. Amidst evidence of Parliament's scepticism (see morning update), the International Monetary Fund has announced that Iran's 2009-2010 inflation rate was 30%.


1620 GMT: Selling State Industries. The great redistribution of state firms continues: reports claim 45% of the Damavand power plant has been given to the controversial "charitable trust" Bonyade Shahid.

1415 GMT: Corruption. MP Elyas Naderan, who is leading the allegations of corruption against First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, is not letting up despite Government pressure on him. He has declared in an interview that Rahimi's deeds are graver than those of Ali Kordan, the Minister of Interior forced to resign over false claims of a doctorate from Oxford University, and of businessman Shahram Jazayeri.

1145 GMT: Press Resurrection. The "moderate" daily newspaper Shargh has reappeared after a three-year ban.

1110 GMT: More Money Questions. Iran Green Voice, drawing from Iranian Labor News Agency, is claiming that Iran's audit commission is enquiring about 631 possible errors in the 2007-2008 budget, with millions of dollars of oil money missing from the Treasury.

Khabar Online and DayPress raises further questions about "aberrations" in the 2008-2009 budget and oil revenues.

1050 GMT: The Post-Election Dead. We have posted, from Muhammad Sahimi of Tehran Bureau, a list of 107 people killed in post-election violence.
1045 GMT: Nuke-Nuke-Nuke. I think this pattern is pretty well set: the US Nuclear Posture Review will be the script for most Iranian political threatre this week. The Supreme Leader has now taken over the lead role, telling senior members of the military:

[Obama] has implicitly threatened Iranians with nuclear weapons. These comments are very strange and the world should not ignore them because in the 21st century... the head of a state is threatening a nuclear attack. The US president's statements are disgraceful. Such comments harm US and they mean that the US government is wicked and unreliable.

1005 GMT: Nuclear Postures. Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani has strongly criticised Washington's position on Iran's nuclear programe. Attacking the Nuclear Posture Review, released this week by the Obama Administration, Larijani told the Majlis:

The US has announced it will not use nuclear weapons except in extraordinary situations. It has also pledged not to use atomic bombs against NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty] members, apart from Iran and North Korea. And they call this a "new" nuclear arms strategy. Just take a look at how many contradictory issues are embedded in this policy. The term "extraordinary situation" can always be used to justify a US nuclear attack.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We will officially present our complaints to the United Nations about these kinds of threats," with a declaration signed by 255 of 290 members of the Majlis.

1000 GMT: Clerical Intervention. Rah-e-Sabz carries a statement from Ayatollah Dastgheib, who says that the ruling authorities slander and arrest even as they pretend to be pious. Thus, Dastgheib argues, the principle of velayat-e-faqih (ultimate clerical authority) is violated.

0935 GMT: The Subsidy Battle. The dispute between Parliament and President on economic plans continues to dominate political news.

An interesting twist as the Government has asked the Majlis not to publish inflation data. Given that the Central Bank of Iran declared earlier this month that the inflation rate had halved to 10.8%, why would the Government be so shy? Could it be that the official rate is not telling the entire story?

High-profile critic Government Elyas Naderan, who is also the central figure claiming corruption by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi, has debated another Vice President, Mohammad Reza Mirtajoddini, at Imam Sadegh University.

 MP Mohammad Hossein Farhangi has said that the Government should not ask for amendments in the legislation approved by the Parliament.

0845 GMT: Shutting Down Politics. Parleman News claims that reformist visitors to Mir Hossein Moussavi have been threatened that they could be banned in the next elections.

0840 GMT: Closing the Press. Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi announced that the appeal to lift the ban on the reformist publication Etemaad has been declined.

0830 GMT: What Next for Greens? Amidst signs of the reconsideration of the opposition strategy and tactics, Ali Mazrouee asks, "What is the nature of the Green Movement?"

0815 GMT: Economy Watch. Iranian Labor News Agency reports that workers of the Hamid China factory, due for closure, are rallying today to protest that they have not been paid wages and benefits for almost two years.

750 GMT: Thanks to Arshama for passing on yesterday's updates as I was in transit --- Saturday's LiveBlog has now been updated. Now to today.....

It may be a different day, but it's still the old, reliable diversions. Minister of Defense Ahmad Vahidi, now a daily source for cheap quotes on how Iran will face down and vanquish any Western aggression, has declared that Tehran has begun mass-producing a new medium-range anti-aircraft missile. Mersad "can destroy modern planes in low and medium altitudes".

Far more interesting spin comes on the Qom front.  Reformist cleric and journalist Mohammad Javad Akbarin, claims several top clerics refused to meet President Ahmadinejad. Akbarin asserted that only one top cleric agreed to meet Ahmadinejad, and he "spent most of the meeting criticizing Ahmadinejad".

A formal photographs at the time of the visit showed Ahmadinejad with several clerics, although, as EA's Mr Verde analysed, there was no confirmation of a Presidential meeting with a Grand Ayatollah, only with three senior clerics who are his fervent supporters.

Comments

[Arshama]

Megan,

Thank you for supporting all those in Iran, who do not dare to speak out -- not in a country, where even former "khodi" (people attached to the system) are now treated like ennemies! A look on the list of imprisoned politicians is revealing: Mirdamadi, former chief of National Security Council / Ramezanzadeh, former Government speaker / Tajzadeh, former deputy to the Interior Minister... to cite only a few names from the Participation Front: http://norooznews.ir/

Advocating "changes" within such a system is naive at best and foolish at worst. AN, his IRGC cronies and his big supporter, the SL, have chosen a way of no return, and they will not stop before they have taken over the whole country:
In addition to their 40% share in Iranian economy they have "privatised" to their benefit Iranian Telecom, and now Damavand Power Plant, SAIPA, shares in six petrochemical plants and power stations (today's EA entry), not to mention all those huge oil and gasoline development projects in Bushehr, assigned to them last week.

At the same time workers, not being paid up to 2! years, are on strike throughout the country, many companies work at 40% of their capacity since summer 2009, and Nowrouz was marked by a new round of dismissals, filling the employment offices...

I would like to ask all those fervent opponents to international sanctions, who is in fact ruining the country? Just continue to close your eyes on this unprecedented wave of murder, torture and repression, and the shameless sale of national properties -- the rest of the world is going to act!

ma bishomarim

Arshama

[kamran]

@Ali, Mad Ali
I am for targeted sanction of IR and IRG, but I am not for military action, having said that I am copying some of your exact words in the following. By reading them closely and comaparing them with regim's position on every single one them will clearly show which side you are standing on the issues.

1- "The events in the last few months showed that majority of Iranians did not want to invest heavily in opposing the government."
2- "And the high percentage of voter turn out shows that most Iranians still believe in the system. A very high number of the population voted for people that are part of the system."
3- "You talk in a way as if the Iranians in the government are a different breed from the rest of the Iranians, which is not true. Iranians from all parts of ethnical and social background are part of the Iranian system."
4 - "At least China is willing to do business with Iran without placing a military base in Tehran."
5- "In regards to the second point, there is absolutely no reason why the IRA needs to hold an international-observed election. What happens if they do, do we again ask for another referrundam in a few years just because another Megan is unhappy? Do we have regular refferundams every few years? For every country in the world, constant changing the government?"
6- "However, I also understand the government’s concern, because giving free reign to the people would make it easy for internal and external enemies, with their own agendas, to incite the population to create discontent and instability in the country"

[Kiterunner]

Dear all:

I'm really happy because of knowing your comments n existence of such hot debate. There r many issues said. I am to answer some of them.

However before that time I want to ask Mr. Lucas to say his comment on the issue if possible. It is good to see how our silent host here thinks about the pros n cons of imposing sanctions against Iran n the debate here.

Anyway I will send my comment as soon as possible.

[Kiterunner]

And i want to know the comment of Mr.Dunn as well if possible. thanks.

[Megan]

Arshama,

Thank you for your support. Being attacked by IR supporters on EA for speaking the naked truth is nothing compared to what people are enduring in IR prisons. I just wish I could do more

I really appreciate your tireless effort here at EA and your blog. I know we will prevail if we keep at it.

[Megan]

Kamran,

Thanks for catching the seminaries. Our friend, M. Ali or MadAli, gave himself away when like all IR supporters claimed he had voted for Mousavi but later had changed his mind after seeing propaganda by the west.

[M. Ali]

Kamran, I never did hide the fact that I'm more pro-IRA than anti-IRA. That does not mean I'm 100% bearded Basij, can't-wait-to-be-martyred supporter, but if I very much admit that I'm all for slow, controlled evolution of the system rather than an outright change. Iran has had bad, weak, or unstable governments for more than a 100 years now, with the current government doing fairly well, given the circumstances surrounding its short history.

[Cyrus]

M.Ali

YOU REPRESENT THE REGIME, NOT THE PEOPLE AND WHAT YOU ARE DEFENDING IS THE REGIME'S INTEREST NOT THE PEOPLE
THOSE BASIJIES IN CHARGE NOW ARE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES WHO JOINED THE BASIJ TO FIGHT THE IRAQIS, I HAVE WITNESSED WHAT TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS JOINED THE BASIJ, A BUNCH OF THUGS WHO JOINED THE BASIJ FOR THE BENEFITS OF JOINING AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES DEFENDING THE COUNTRY EITHER

YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS WERE UNSTABLE BUT THE IR IS STABLE!! STAYING IN POWER BY FORCE AND REPRESSION IS DIFFERENT THAN BEING STABLE IN A DEMOCRATIC WAY. THIS REGIME HAS 100 TIMES MORE SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE FORCES THAN PAHLAVI, THAT'S HOW IT HAS REMAINED IN POWER

IS 31 YEARS A SHORT HISTORY ? THATS 1/3 OF A CENTURY!! WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS ACHIEVED?? HEZBALLAH AND TERRORISM ALL OVER THE WORLD, IRAN'S CURRENCY IS 150 TIME LOWER IN VALUE THAN IT WAS 31 YEARS AGO. IRAN'S ECONOMY WAS DOING SO WELL DURING THE SHAH W/ 0% UNEMPLOYMENT THAT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AND OTHER FOREIGNERS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY TO FILL THE POSITIONS. THE MILITARY THAT DEFENDED THE COUNTRY DURING THE WAR WAS BUILT BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. ALL INDUSTRIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES, EDUCATION SYSTEM, ETC THAT MADE MODERN IRAN WERE BUILT DURING THAT ERA.

IRAN'S OIL REVENUE IN THE PAST 5 YEARS ALONE IS WAS MORE THAN IRAN'S OIL REVENUE DURING ITS ENTIRE HISTORY BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THE PEOPLE OF IRAN BENEFITED FROM ALL THAT WEALTH? YOU THIEVES ARE CUTTING ALL THE SUBSIDIES WHILE YOUR OIL REVENUE IS FAR MORE THAN WHAT YOU DREAMED OF A DECADE AGO!!

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC IS A FAILED POLITICAL SYSTEM AND IT'S THE MOST BRUTAL AND CORRUPT DICTATORSHIP OF OUR TIME. I DON'T SEE HOW YOU YOU CLAIM THAT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC CAN EVOLVE INTO A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY!! IF YOU THINK WE ARE GOING TO BET IF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC GOING TO EVOLVE INTO A DEMOCRACY IN ANOTHER 30 YEARS, 50 YRS, 100 YEARS OR GOD KNOWS WHEN OR LET IT STAY IN POWER AND START A WAR, THEN YOU'LL BE SURPRISED WHEN WE OVERTHROW THE SYSTEM WHILE YOU ARE STILL DREAMING.

A MONKEY MAY EVOLVE TO A HUMAN, BUT A FLY MAY ONLY EVOLVE TO ANOTHER INSECT, NOT A MAMMAL!!

A NATIONS INTEREST IS THE INTEREST OF ALL ITS CITIZENS, NOT JUST A FEW CONNECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT.

31 YEARS OF DESTRUCTION AND GOING BACKWARD IS ENOUGH AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY ANY, I REPEAT ANY PRICE IT TAKES TO GET GET RID OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC BEFORE THEY START A NUCLEAR WAR AN DESTROY THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND GET MILLIONS KILLED

[Barry]

Regarding "paranoia" of the IR Regime - and it's supporters.

If it is valid for them to be "paranoid" about the US because of what happened in 1953, then it is equally valid for the rest of the world to be paranoid about the lack of honor shown by Iran -

after all, Iran has a history of overrunning an established Foreign Embassy and imprisoning it's Diplomats (who, in all civilised countries, are accorded diplomatic immunity and Diplomatic stations are accorded protection.) Even during the very depths of the cold war, neither the US nor the USSR sank to such low depths - and honored Diplomatic conventions.

Who can now trust ANYTHING that the IRI does or says - they have no honor!

Barry

[rezvan]

Look guys if you take a telescope and look out at the universe it is a mostly dark space with a few blobs of light that we call stars. The world we live in is pretty grim for the vast majority of its inhabitants. Despite phenomenal wealth and material affluence never ever witnessed in the history of humankind, many millions all over the world still die out of preventable diseases and poverty whilst the wealthiest nations of the world led by the US spend more of their wealth in producing WMDs and creating insecurity and fear amongst the smaller nations and inflicting anarchy upon them not only for this generation but also mutating the gene pool and thereby inflicting further tragedy on these hapless nations. Witness Iraq and Afghanistan and many others before them. Iran might have a terrible record of human rights but can you tell me who is worse - A nation that claims to be civilised and leader of the free world but whose officials openly admit that if through their policies 500,000 innocent Iraqi children starved to death than that is just 'collateral damage' (Madeline Albright).

The sanctimonious and self righteous humbugs who find a fault with everyone but themselves should perhaps take a closer look at themselves and what they might find is not to their liking.

The Iranian people do not need any help to take their dictators to task and if necessary remove them, they already have good experince in doing that and they certainly do not want Uncle Sam's or Uncle Tom's dirty paws anywhere near them.

[Barry]

@REZVAN

"The Iranian people do not need any help to take their dictators to task and if necessary remove them"

That is very good to hear coming from you - but do you recognize the current government system of Iran as being a dictatorship?

Barry

[Rev. Magdalen]

Rezvan,

I found your comment really interesting, thank you for sharing it. You must understand that this is not at all how the USA sees itself, as "sanctimonious and self righteous" and deliberately trying to frighten small countries.

You've used a lot of emotional terms, but when the USA goes to make policy there is no emotion involved at all, as you were shocked to see from Ms. Albright's comments. The defenders of America do not consider at all any kind of emotion, they just calculate risk, potential responses, and probable damages.

I am certain that even in his most private conversations Obama never speaks of hating Ahmadinejad or being angry with him, those things would not occur to him. It is a question of the threat risk, the potential responses, and the potential damages, that's all.

To me this is important to realize, that Ahmadinejad's emotional speeches will never have the effect of causing Obama to change his mind about anything. AN can call Obama a "Neanderthal" or "retarded person" or even "kaka siah" all day long and it will not change a thing. Obama goes by threat assessments, not words. If AN were to comply with the West's nuclear requests, unfair though they may be, his harsh words would be completely forgiven and he'd probably be invited to summits and treated with honor, without any hard feelings for the emotional things that he said.

[Mike Dunn]

Cyrus- please can you refrain from typing in all capitals- it denotes shouting and isn't really necessary. Thanks.

[Kiterunner]

i asked an important question im my post no one answered.i write it below:

"why do not developed countries sell passenger airplanes to Iran? Do u know many has died because of plane crashes so far in Iran?"

is it in your opinion fare?

[cyrus]

Kiterunner,

Islammic Republic claims to be self-sufficient and independent. Chants death to America & the west. So make your own airplains!!!

Now, what do you care about passenger airplains so much? A lot more people have died in prisons under torture than airplain accident.
I know, you guys need to expend your airlines so you have more chances of smuggling armes, stolen ancient artifacts and bombs to other countries and dugs back to Iran.

You don't care about the safety of Irnian people!! You care about IRGC's private airline business interest. What are you? An executive for Aseman air?

[Barry]

Kiterunner

Cyrus has a good point - and it is not just the Iranian Regime who has chanted "Death to America" (who make Boeing aircraft) for the past 30 years, it is the Iranian people who have chanted it. I have seen vast crowds of them doing this - they have revelled in showing this to the world all this time. They love doing it!!

Now - as an old wise saying says - "As you sow, so shall you reap" Now, the Iranian people are reaping their crop - and it is barren!! You will need to plant some better seeds if you want better crops.

Barry

[Kiterunner]

cyrus,

u have an illusion. who is the owner of planes n who is a revolutionary guard? i am really sorry that u r attacking me while i am myself an ordinary people! u think i am basiji or sepahi or connected with the system?! i have no connection with them but i am looking for truth!

cyrus and barry,

it seems that u guys enjoy seeing iranian people dead! it seems u dont' have problem with the government but u have deep problems with all iranians. u enjoy it when u see this. ok keep enjoying!
we can't make good airplanes so we buy awful ones which crash n people get burned dead n u get happy. ok. keep laughing n enjoying. it is really shameles! do'nt u know what is morality?

ok many people chant deat to america n many do not. in your opinion all the iranians should be at risk because of the people who hate u. beacause some of iranians hate usa so u americans hate all iranians. Bravo!
i find out from here that u bear a grudge against iranian! ok keep having but we r alive.i hope god helps u to be treated!

And about martyrs n captives of the green movement: i love them n i honour them with every fiber of my existence.

where do u live?!!!!!!

i am living in iran n want to live in iran. i want to see my fellow iranians have better lives. u know nothing! u r far away just before your monitor n say anything u want. do u think u r very brave? ha ha ha!

even coming here n discussing such things can make problems for me. if i come i want to know others better n get familiar with some other's thoughts. i want foreigners to know people like me exist. it seem u guys want to eliminate me!
no problem! Want anything u want but I want to improve iran through love n peace n better conditions of life. We want the green path of hope n i am very hopeful.

u guys go and keep on enjoying n smilimg because of iranan plane crashes. i wish god helps u to make your black hearts lighter!

[Catherine]

Hi Kiterunner,
I don't think Cyrus and Barry wish death for the Iranian people or are happy that Iranians die in plane crashes. I think it is possible that they didn't understand some things you said, or maybe they think you are someone you are not, because your English is not always clear. But in your last post you explain yourself better. It is good to have readers here who are inside Iran and we all appreciate the risks you take to communicate with us.

[Kiterunner]

Hi Catherine,

look at what Barry said:

(it is not just the Iranian Regime who has chanted “Death to America” for the past 30 years, it is the Iranian people who have chanted it. I have seen vast crowds of them doing this – they have revelled in showing this to the world all this time. They love doing it!!

Now – as an old wise saying says – “As you sow, so shall you reap” Now, the Iranian people are reaping their crop.) !

it is obvious that he is enjoying iranian plane crashes n happy.
it is no problem. i came here to know others better and now i know! it is great that i found out what such kind of people exist.

[Kiterunner]

Hi Catherine,

look at what Barry said:

(it is not just the Iranian Regime who has chanted “Death to America” (who make Boeing aircraft) for the past 30 years, it is the Iranian people who have chanted it. I have seen vast crowds of them doing this – they have revelled in showing this to the world all this time. They love doing it!!

Now – as an old wise saying says – “As you sow, so shall you reap” Now, the Iranian people are reaping their crop.) !

it is obvious that he is enjoying iranian plane crashes n happy.
it is no problem. i came here to know others better and now i know! it is great that i found out that such kind of people exist.

[Barry]

Kiterunner

I am NOT happy that Iranian people are now reaping a barren crop - but we are all inevitably responsible for our own actions and if our own actions lead us to bad things, we have no one else to blame except ourselves. This applies to everybody - including Iranians. I AM saying that the Iranian people are now themselves to blame for the barren crop that they now have - it is a result of their own actions. If you scream "Death to *****" , sooner or later it will come to you - this is what is known in India as Karma!

The only thing we can do is to analyze ourselves and our actions - and try to improve ourselves.

Barry

[Kiterunner]

Barry,

i make this point again:
i accept many has been chanting death to USA till now. but pay attention many hasn't done such thing!
what u said means that because some of iranians hate the government of USA so u as an American and the US government hate all iranians!!!!!!!!!! what a fare communication!
for example i myself haven't chanted death to anywhere till now. but i am at risk when i am on an airplane. probably the plane crashes n i get dead! why?
i admit that each action we do has a result .so when we do an action we should bear the result. however in plain crashes some get dead that may be not interested in politics at all. Maybe an illiterate farmer. Or maybe a neutral person. or even perhaps sb who likes your country. is it just?

i hope i have expressed my opinion clearly.

[Megan]

Catherine,

When Kiterunner showed up on EA on March 27, I was very happy to have a 22 year old young Iranian from inside Iran carrying a dialogue with us on EA. I, however, have found some of Kiterunner’s question/ comments curious. There are nuances that those of us who are familiar with Iranian culture can pick up even with the language barrier. I have picked up some and Cyrus may also be sensing that.

I tried to understand Kiterunner’s positions by asking him/her a few questions. I did not hear back. I did not fault Kiterunner for that because he/she might not have had the time or the fluency to argue every point in English. I tried to read his/.her Farsi blog and I found that to be very vague and almost written in coded words. I faulted my poor Farsi for that. So as much as I would like to hear from kiterunner I would like him/her stop acting as if he/she is on Planet Mars. I really would like to hear his/her views on the topic of discussion rather being quizzed by him/her on topics totally unrelated to the ongoing discussion. I am hungry for news from inside of the big prison we call Iran. For example I want him/her telling us how people there feel about sanctions and why. Instead he/she put the question to us and chose to stay silent on the topic. I find that odd as if we are the subject of school project or a public opinion poll by Islamic Republic. I also find questions open ended, e.g. starting with “why”, “how”, etc. Open ended questions are designed to draw a large pool of views and opinions.

We have had people on EA who were inside Iran; people like Hossein, Alborz, Morad, whereismyvote and recently MadAli just to name a few. These folks whether for or against Islamic Republic argued their positions instead of quizzing us.

I still would like to hear from Kiterunner but I want people like him/ her tell us what is unfolding in Iran and share the sentiment of people there. One example is people’s reaction to Obama’s statement regarding U.S. response in kind if a country in violation of NPT develops and uses nuclear weapon on another country. By the number of phone calls and the nature of calls coming in to this one radio station in the past few days it appeases that the regime has masterfully and deliberately twisted Obama’s statement by telling gullible Iranians that U.S. plans to nuke Iran. In the past few nights phones are ringing off the hook during a two-hour political program with grown men crying in fear for the lives of their families. One man said his son was scared to sleep. Another man was pleading with the radio station director to mediate and talk some sense to Obama. The high octane vulgarity and profanities by Ahmadi and others lobbed at Obama and other world leaders may very well be part of the act to convince people that they are about to be nuked by U.S. This regime for its own survival will stop at nothing even if it means creating mass hysteria to divert attention from the economic and political chaos. It is unbelievable how low this criminal regime will go.

[Catherine]

Megan,
Thanks for your explanation. However, I'll leave it to Kiterunner to respond to you because the bulk of what you have to say is actually meant for him/her.

[Megan]

Kiterunner,

I think you should know none of us get paid for commenting here. We do it because we love Iranians and we would like to see them enjoy the same freedom we enjoy.

I do not want to speak for Barry but Barry is from Australia. He has been reading EA and commenting because he cares about Iranians.

Cyrus is an Iranians who loves Iran. He like many of us is in pain seeing Iran being destroyed in hands of Islamic Republic thugs and thieves in the past 31 years.

Catherine works tirelessly bringing attention to atrocities against innocent people in Iran. I can name every single person on EA and tell you how and why they take time away from their works and their families, their sleep to follow news on Iran. I have to get ready for work in anhour and will have to go to work without having had any sleep tonight. If we did not care about Iranian people we would not be here commenting. So calm down, we are your friends.

I do agree with Cyrus. Yes, there were people who died in plane crash but there are also people who are dying in Islamic Republic prisons as I write these words. Why not pay attention to them? The reason you do not have the necessary parts to service those passenger planes is because you have a regime that says it wants to make a nuclear bomb; it is because Islamic Republic constantly threaten other countries; it is because Islamic Republic is looting Iran natural resources to fund wars outside of its borders; it is because IR leaders lie and cheat. I can go on and on but I am sure you get the picture.

Barry is right we deserve the government we have. If we feel we deserve more we need to put in place a better government. If you want to feel safe flying a passenger plane you got to get rid of your biggest problem, the Islamo Fascist regime from top to bottom. Islamic Republic should have been eliminated the first time it violated its own constitution, the day Khomeini nullified 11 million votes for Bani Sader (good or bad people had spoken and had cast 11 million votes for Bani Sader). Khomeini should have been kicked out of town the day he ordered execution of thousands without due process, he should have been removed when he ordered occupation of U.S. embassy and holding U.S. diplomats hostage for 440 days. Once people accept a government that has no respect for the law even his own laws such people have to realize the next victim could be them. You and other Iranians have been victims for 31 years. We are not your enemy; Islamic Republic is. Islamic Republic is the same government you still want to refurbish and keep in place knowing well that it is too broken to be fixed.