Ahmadinejad at Columbia University
Photo: Reuters
Iran reformist warns democracy at stake
Top reformist Mohsen Mirdamadi says demonizing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at his visit to Columbia Unversity only strengthens his political agenda
One of Iran's top reform politicians said Wednesday that demonizing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
— such as in this week's Columbia University forum — only strengthens hard-liners' hand as Iranians rally around their otherwise unpopular leader.
Even more damaging would be a military strike against Iran, which Mohsen Mirdamadi said would set back democracy a decade or more.
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Mirdamadi leads Iran's largest pro-reform party, which has been working to make a comeback after being forced from power by hard-liners like Ahmadinejad who are close to the country's Islamic clerical leadership.
He told The Associated Press that Ahmadinejad should have little chance of re-election in two years because of increasing criticism that he has failed to fix the economy and has hurt Iran on the world stage.
But sharp criticism of the hard-line leader this week in New York — including during his appearance at Columbia — boosts his popularity, Mirdamadi said in an exclusive interview.
"The remarks by the Columbia University president were like an indictment against the Iranian president. Ahmadinejad's opponents don't support this," he said.
"The blistering speech against Ahmadinejad only strengthened him back home and made his radical supporters more determined," Mirdamadi said during the hour-long interview in his central Tehran office.
During Monday's question-and-answer session, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger gave a tough introduction to Ahmadinejad, including telling him that he resembles a "petty and cruel dictator."
Many Iranians found the comments insulting, particularly because in Iranian traditions of hospitality, a host should be polite to a guest, no matter what he thinks of him. To many, Ahmadinejad looked like the victim, and hard-liners praised the president's calm demeanor during the event, saying Bollinger was spouting a "Zionist" line.
'Threat of attack helps Ahmadinejad's agenda'
Tensions are high between Washington and Tehran over U.S. accusations that Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and arming Shiite militias in Iraq that target US troops. Iran has denied both claims.Fears are high in Iran that the US or Israel will carry out a military strike on the country, which Iranian leaders have warned would spark retaliation against Israel and US bases in the region. Washington has said it is addressing the Iran situation diplomatically, but US officials also say that all options are open.
Mirdamadi said Western powers have to stop any talk of war if they want democracy to succeed in Iran. The threat of an attack "helps Ahmadinejad's political agenda," he said.
"Any US military action against Iran will only boost radicals within Iran ... Military action will set back democracy in Iran for a decade or two," Mirdamadi warned.
