The Rule of Unmindfuls
Mohsen Aminzadeh’s harsh criticism against Ahmadinejad’s foreign policies.
The reformist party "Islamic Iran Participation Front" held a seance titled "The International Repercussions of Iran’s Tenth Presidential Elections" on Sunday. Mohsen Aminzadeh, former deputy foreign minister used the occasion to slam Ahmadinejad’s foreign diplomacy:
"Currently, Ahmadinejad’s administration hands a bunch of lies to Iranians. Their representation of our foreign policy is a collection of lies and inverted facts."
Aminzadeh added: "it is not only that our foreign apparatus has been substantially reshuffled and out prominent experts have been replaced by inefficient officials, but all the fundaments of our foreign diplomacy since the revolution are annihilated. All the prestige that Khatami brought for our country is waning out.
Former deputy foreign minister reiterated that: fabrication is the big problem, the government has managed to represent its foreign diplomacy as a successful one, while all experts are stunned by the volume of chaos it has created. State-run TV and media are aiding the government in this way, but that’s not all: in defending our shared concerns with the Muslim world, such as Palestinians’ plight and West’s presence in the region the government has adopted an adventurous line which has totally ignored our national interests."
Aminzadeh clarified that: "Iran’s reputation has been tarnished; we have lost golden opportunities and replaced them with threats against our national interests. The government does not even show mercy to its friends; even Palestine is suffering its policies."
He added: "the question is, why are all these catastrophes taking place and we haven’t still been attacked? Coincidentally, this administration has had the blessing of 300 billion dollars of oil revenues, which gave it a chance to control the affairs while the country is immersed in corruption and inflation. However, a rational, moderate government would have grasped the opportunities and upgraded Iran’s standing."
Aminzadeh explained that: "Soviet Union’s collapse set us free from the captivation of a superpower that had meddled with our internal affairs for three centuries. Saddam’s overthrow also ended his interferences. Today, Iran’s is more important a regional actor than Russia. Iran is even influential in Central Asia, Russians’ traditional sphere of influence. The world appreciates Iran’s position, is ready to acknowledge that and wants to provide Iran with the share it deserves. Energy resources, human force and geographical features of Iran have all gave it with an exceptional geopolitical and economic situation."
Aminzadeh remarked that: "look at Persian Gulf states’ behavior to see the poor performance of Ahmadinejad’s administration. These countries were dwarfed by Iran’s power, but today, they are using a tough language against us. Don’t forget that the most unanimous agreement in UN Security Council was formed against Iran. I believe this presidential election is one of the most globally important after United States’ poll, since it heavily affects regional and global policies. I hope we can put things at the place they were."
In the Q&A, Aminzadeh was asked about the course of Iran’s nuclear file if a moderate administration was functioning instead of Ahmadinejad. Nuclear program is where the government has said its biggest lies according to Aminzadeh, as it has represented itself as the sole initiator and possessor of Iran’s nuclear industry. He added that: "Ahmadinejad administration’s share of the nuclear program is 10-15 percent. When Khatami handed power to Ahmadinejad, all the infrastructures of this industry had been established, preparing Iran to become a nuclear state. Lubrication of nuclear machinery and keeping the centrifuges functioning was the only thing the present government did. What they can consider as their major achievement is the nuclear crisis. They can claim for a 70% share of that. If there was a day to celebrate nuclear achievements, that would be the day when Iran ran its first centrifuge, but that was abstained to avoid any controversy. Nuclearization is a sensitive issue per se and a country’s dexterity is in precluding negative propaganda."
Aminzadeh reminded that: "United States has been attempting to turn us into a military target. But Khatami’s policies foiled their efforts. During his presidency no one regarded Iran as a threat. Esfahan’s UCF factory was fully constructed when Ahmadinejad started his presidency. But instead of moving towards trust-building, he adopted policies which served the interests of the most radical groups in Israel and the United States. With its fanfare, the government paved the way for vilification."
When one of the attendees asked about appointments in Khatami’s foreign ministry and the killing of nine Iranian diplomats by Taliban in Mazar-e-Sharif, Aminzadeh stated that he held no responsibility on Afghanistan during the event, though Iran followed a traditional policy in Afghanistan: "I proudly say that all those committed those crimes have been penalized, without posing any further threats to us.
Prior to 9/11 I made all my efforts to prevent tensions between Iran and Taliban. While after the killing of our diplomats some advocated war with Afghanistan and believed that we have to capture Herat, I stood against it. The Supreme Leader also believed that Afghanistan is a quagmire and with his wisdom we prevented any military clashes."
Afghanistan’s new government is Iran’s dream government according to Aminzadeh, one that fuels neither Sunni-Shiite discord nor ethnic tensions. He added that: "peace is the most advantageous options for us. Eighty-percent of Afghans earn a living from drug trade. So what is our solution? We should help them in their course of development. War with Afghans has never been beneficial for us. Mismanagement can jeopardize our border security, but we are witnessing the appointment of the most unmindful officials for Afghanistan. On the other hand, United States has appointed one if its most seasoned diplomats on Afghanistan affairs, and a equally powerful figure as his deputy. Living in Afghanistan is not easy but they are staying there since they know the importance of this country."
Aminzadeh asserted that: "the most unmindful functionaries are serving in the foreign ministry today as ambassadors. It looks like the government searches for those who know the least in order to give them an office. They’re choices for ambassadors have been catastrophic and have brought us nothing but disgrace across the world. This government is anti-rationality and anti-elite and looks for bullheaded adventurous individuals who can endure controversy."
He also criticized Ahmadinejad’s policy on Caspian affairs and Iran’s rights saying that: the Caspian summit held in Tehran put and end to the validity of historical documents which supported our 20% share of the Caspian: "The only merit it had for us was Putin’s presence in Tehran for a few hours. And about UAE, if visiting this country was advantageous, Hashemi Rafsanjani and Khatami would have done it before Ahmadinejad."
"Currently, Ahmadinejad’s administration hands a bunch of lies to Iranians. Their representation of our foreign policy is a collection of lies and inverted facts."
Aminzadeh added: "it is not only that our foreign apparatus has been substantially reshuffled and out prominent experts have been replaced by inefficient officials, but all the fundaments of our foreign diplomacy since the revolution are annihilated. All the prestige that Khatami brought for our country is waning out.
Former deputy foreign minister reiterated that: fabrication is the big problem, the government has managed to represent its foreign diplomacy as a successful one, while all experts are stunned by the volume of chaos it has created. State-run TV and media are aiding the government in this way, but that’s not all: in defending our shared concerns with the Muslim world, such as Palestinians’ plight and West’s presence in the region the government has adopted an adventurous line which has totally ignored our national interests."
Aminzadeh clarified that: "Iran’s reputation has been tarnished; we have lost golden opportunities and replaced them with threats against our national interests. The government does not even show mercy to its friends; even Palestine is suffering its policies."
He added: "the question is, why are all these catastrophes taking place and we haven’t still been attacked? Coincidentally, this administration has had the blessing of 300 billion dollars of oil revenues, which gave it a chance to control the affairs while the country is immersed in corruption and inflation. However, a rational, moderate government would have grasped the opportunities and upgraded Iran’s standing."
Aminzadeh explained that: "Soviet Union’s collapse set us free from the captivation of a superpower that had meddled with our internal affairs for three centuries. Saddam’s overthrow also ended his interferences. Today, Iran’s is more important a regional actor than Russia. Iran is even influential in Central Asia, Russians’ traditional sphere of influence. The world appreciates Iran’s position, is ready to acknowledge that and wants to provide Iran with the share it deserves. Energy resources, human force and geographical features of Iran have all gave it with an exceptional geopolitical and economic situation."
Aminzadeh remarked that: "look at Persian Gulf states’ behavior to see the poor performance of Ahmadinejad’s administration. These countries were dwarfed by Iran’s power, but today, they are using a tough language against us. Don’t forget that the most unanimous agreement in UN Security Council was formed against Iran. I believe this presidential election is one of the most globally important after United States’ poll, since it heavily affects regional and global policies. I hope we can put things at the place they were."
In the Q&A, Aminzadeh was asked about the course of Iran’s nuclear file if a moderate administration was functioning instead of Ahmadinejad. Nuclear program is where the government has said its biggest lies according to Aminzadeh, as it has represented itself as the sole initiator and possessor of Iran’s nuclear industry. He added that: "Ahmadinejad administration’s share of the nuclear program is 10-15 percent. When Khatami handed power to Ahmadinejad, all the infrastructures of this industry had been established, preparing Iran to become a nuclear state. Lubrication of nuclear machinery and keeping the centrifuges functioning was the only thing the present government did. What they can consider as their major achievement is the nuclear crisis. They can claim for a 70% share of that. If there was a day to celebrate nuclear achievements, that would be the day when Iran ran its first centrifuge, but that was abstained to avoid any controversy. Nuclearization is a sensitive issue per se and a country’s dexterity is in precluding negative propaganda."
Aminzadeh reminded that: "United States has been attempting to turn us into a military target. But Khatami’s policies foiled their efforts. During his presidency no one regarded Iran as a threat. Esfahan’s UCF factory was fully constructed when Ahmadinejad started his presidency. But instead of moving towards trust-building, he adopted policies which served the interests of the most radical groups in Israel and the United States. With its fanfare, the government paved the way for vilification."
When one of the attendees asked about appointments in Khatami’s foreign ministry and the killing of nine Iranian diplomats by Taliban in Mazar-e-Sharif, Aminzadeh stated that he held no responsibility on Afghanistan during the event, though Iran followed a traditional policy in Afghanistan: "I proudly say that all those committed those crimes have been penalized, without posing any further threats to us.
Prior to 9/11 I made all my efforts to prevent tensions between Iran and Taliban. While after the killing of our diplomats some advocated war with Afghanistan and believed that we have to capture Herat, I stood against it. The Supreme Leader also believed that Afghanistan is a quagmire and with his wisdom we prevented any military clashes."
Afghanistan’s new government is Iran’s dream government according to Aminzadeh, one that fuels neither Sunni-Shiite discord nor ethnic tensions. He added that: "peace is the most advantageous options for us. Eighty-percent of Afghans earn a living from drug trade. So what is our solution? We should help them in their course of development. War with Afghans has never been beneficial for us. Mismanagement can jeopardize our border security, but we are witnessing the appointment of the most unmindful officials for Afghanistan. On the other hand, United States has appointed one if its most seasoned diplomats on Afghanistan affairs, and a equally powerful figure as his deputy. Living in Afghanistan is not easy but they are staying there since they know the importance of this country."
Aminzadeh asserted that: "the most unmindful functionaries are serving in the foreign ministry today as ambassadors. It looks like the government searches for those who know the least in order to give them an office. They’re choices for ambassadors have been catastrophic and have brought us nothing but disgrace across the world. This government is anti-rationality and anti-elite and looks for bullheaded adventurous individuals who can endure controversy."
He also criticized Ahmadinejad’s policy on Caspian affairs and Iran’s rights saying that: the Caspian summit held in Tehran put and end to the validity of historical documents which supported our 20% share of the Caspian: "The only merit it had for us was Putin’s presence in Tehran for a few hours. And about UAE, if visiting this country was advantageous, Hashemi Rafsanjani and Khatami would have done it before Ahmadinejad."