- 28 September 2009
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- 5 Comments
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- Sanctions
Opposition leaders say sanctions will hurt the Iranian people; gov’t won’t care
28 September 2009 Posted By David Elliott
The reformist Presidential candidate turned opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi has officially spoken out against further economic sanctions. He joins the outspoken Mehdi Karroubi, who came out against sanctions earlier this month.
“We are against any sanctions against our nation,” Mousavi said in a statement posted on Rouydadnews reformist website.He said sanctions “will impose agonies on a nation who suffers enough from miserable statesmen.”
He added: “The country is on the verge of crises which will mostly hurt the poor as a result of wrong and adventurous foreign policies of the government from which our people suffer.
“We might have simplistically thought this is an advantage for our green movement, but it is not,” said Mousavi, who along with his green-wearing supporters regard President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election as “illegitimate.”
“Which one of them can be expected to care about the agony their behaviour imposes on people?” he asked of Iran’s current leaders. “If we don’t care about what harms those living in this land, nobody will.”
Human rights advocates like Shirin Ebadi have argued that any new sanctions imposed against Iran should be targeted specifically at Iranian government officials, not Iran’s general population. Unfortunately, the primary tool the US Congress is considering is a refined petroleum embargo — just in time for winter. The IRGC probably won’t have any trouble getting gasoline or heating oil, but what about Iran’s poor and middle class, many of whom are out risking their lives to protest against the government?
The US should stand in solidarity with the Iranian people, not stand on their backs.
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5 Responses to “Opposition leaders say sanctions will hurt the Iranian people; gov’t won’t care”
Sanctions are the best way to force this regime adhere to international laws. The idea that sanctions will hurt the Iranian people are utter nonsense.
Sanctions are the only way to get rid of the terrorist regime.
Babak, clearly you and this terrorist regime share the same values as you could care less what happens to the ordinary people. Good one!
People of Iran have been hurting for the past 30 years regardless. Good example is the the $300B oil revenue in the past 4 years which did not do anything for people except higher inflation and un-employment. No doubt the sanctions will hurt people but they will hurt the government even more. Once the government is not able to provide financial support to their foreign backers such as Hamas, Hez0aalh, Iraq, and South American allies as well as their internal thugs such as Basij forces, they will have less power and people of Iran will feel more empowered to get rid of this criminal regime.
The effect will be quite the opposite, parvin. Sanctions on gasoline imports would provide the excuse the IRI wants to get rid of gasoline subsidies, which cost them billions of dollars every year. So actually, they would have more money to support Hamas, Hezbollah, etc.
For a more in depth explanation, read this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/15/opinion/15iht-edaksari.htm