1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WVS Boston's news radio. 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 2: Right, Dear Walkins, thank you very much. I'm delighted to 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 2: welcome back to Night Side. I guess we had on 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 2: just a few weeks ago when things were quite difficult 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 2: in Iran. There were people protesting and the protesters were 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 2: being killed and killed in the streets with us as 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: Boston College Professor Ali Bano was easy. Professor Bano was easy. 8 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming back to us tonight. 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: I got to start off with the question of how 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 2: surprised were you when you woke up on Saturday morning 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 2: and realize that Iran was under attack and and uh 12 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: and and war had begun. 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: Well, good evening, mister Ay. First of all, make me 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 3: say that it's a privilege to have been invited by 15 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 3: you to this program. 16 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: Thank you. 17 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 3: You are one of the most distinguished journalists that I've 18 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 3: listened to for many years, and recently I have had 19 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:20,919 Speaker 3: the privilege to get to know more closely through these interviews. 20 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. That's very kind of you to say. 21 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 2: But the honor is mine that you would that you 22 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 2: would come and join us, and I really. 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: In response to your question, I was indeed surprised. I 24 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 3: knew that the pressures were building up and there would 25 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 3: be some kind of intervention, but quite frankly, over the 26 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 3: past two or three days, the scale of that intervention 27 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 3: has surprised and worried me a great deal. I had 28 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: not expected a full staged war being raged against their own, 29 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,679 Speaker 3: which we have seen in the past two or three days. 30 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 2: Well, I'm also surprised by Iran's ability to continue. I mean, 31 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 2: they have been hit by everything for about forty eight hours. 32 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 2: I've been surprised by their ability to continue launching. I mean, 33 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 2: the moment when the forty some odd leaders were killed, 34 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: at the moment at the beginning was stunning. But they're 35 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: still launching. And I don't understand why Iran launched rockets 36 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: at Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Cutter and other Oman I 37 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: believe Oman was spared, but a lot of the even 38 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: as I heard today papers was was targeted. What is 39 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: the newly constituted leadership of Iran thinking, what does that help? 40 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: How does that help them? 41 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, as you know, the Supreme Leader 42 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 3: and several members of his family were killed in the 43 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 3: first hour or so of the attacks, and In addition 44 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: to that, some of the top security officers, including you know, 45 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 3: the Defense Minister and the head of the Revolutionary Guards, 46 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: the most important part of the security establishment. And and 47 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 3: and as you hinted, some forty or so top officials 48 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: of the of the regime were killed in those early hours. However, 49 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 3: we should keep in mind that this is a regime 50 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 3: that has built itself over the past four or five decades, 51 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: not as a pyramid with one supreme leader and merely 52 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 3: controlling all the key decisions in the country, but as 53 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 3: a very well constituted system that includes first and foremost 54 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 3: the security establishment. You know of over one hundred and 55 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 3: fifty thousand in the so called IRGC, the internet, the 56 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 3: Islamic Revolutionary Guard course, and then the regular army, but 57 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 3: many many other establishments groups you know, the so called bessiege. 58 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: You know. 59 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 3: That number in according to some estimates, to over one 60 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 3: million people. So all of these are spread through the 61 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 3: country and they function not independency but as a relatively 62 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: well managed modern system of repression. And we saw their 63 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 3: capability to repress when over a million people in every 64 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 3: major city in the country rose up in the month 65 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: of January and were confronted with these security forces, and 66 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 3: over thirty thousand were assassinated or you know, massacred, and 67 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 3: tens of thousands also imprisoned and so on. So this 68 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 3: is a regime that has developed this kind of capability 69 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 3: for many decades. 70 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: Which which and what what they? What really of course 71 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: begs the question is I suspect that the Iranian people 72 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: would love to be able to live in a freer 73 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 2: society because I just think human beings generally yurne for freedom. 74 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 2: But it is a society that is controlled. But it's 75 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 2: and it's controlled effectively. Uh. The the Trump administration basically 76 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: is saying that they want to uh suppress any possibility 77 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: of uh this government or any subsequent government to to 78 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 2: have the ability to deliver nuclear weapons or for that matter, 79 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 2: ballistic missiles. My question is where do you think this 80 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: will be three or four weeks from now. I mean, 81 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: there's only so much ordinance that the United States has. 82 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: There comes a point in time where public opinion, although 83 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: I've been around long enough to know that public opinion 84 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 2: initially supports something like this, but then eventually we lose 85 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: interest in it. What do you think the strategy of 86 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: the Trump administration is they have taken this dramatic step. 87 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: Where do you think they see the situation developing? 88 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 3: That is, of course the key question in thinking about 89 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 3: the outcome and the prospects of this war. As you, 90 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 3: I'm sure you know, mister Trump today had the occasion 91 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: to once again talk about the duration of this conflict, 92 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 3: of this war, and he said that it may take 93 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: four to five weeks, and then he added quickly after 94 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: that we have the capability to go on for longer 95 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 3: than that, and then taking it to the level of 96 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 3: a joke, he said, well, there are people who say 97 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 3: that the president might get bored, he may want to 98 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 3: finish it quickly. But I don't get bored. There's nothing 99 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 3: boring about this, and so on so forth. So it 100 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 3: seems like they are ready to continue these attacks for 101 00:08:55,440 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: another month or so at least. And the level of 102 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 3: devastation and that we're seeing in the past two or 103 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 3: three days is truly really unprecedented in that region of 104 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 3: the world, except for what happened, of course in Iraq 105 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 3: and Afghanistan, which you know, which continued for many years, 106 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: twenty years in the case of Afghanistan. 107 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 2: But at what point does the American public begin to 108 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 2: see the And again I am not in any way, 109 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 2: shape or form sympathetic empathetic in any way towards the 110 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 2: now late leadership in Iran. But at what point does 111 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 2: the American people begin to look at what's going on 112 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 2: as as the historical you look back in history at 113 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: say Dressden, we bombed Dresden in large Part two, let 114 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 2: the German people know there was no hope for them 115 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 2: to win. Is that the plan that you think the 116 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 2: administration is following that literally bombed them until they submit. 117 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: Well, you know, first of all, the president never presented 118 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 3: the objectives of this war to the American public, and 119 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,119 Speaker 3: certainly he did not present it and received the approval 120 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 3: of Congress. He declared it the night in which you know, 121 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 3: two three o'clock in the morning, when the war began, 122 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 3: But never prior to that did he, as had been 123 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 3: the custom in the past, several days eight for the 124 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 3: president to declare the objectives of the war and to 125 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 3: try at least to find other countries that would be 126 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 3: supportive of it. But he didn't do that. He nearly 127 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 3: began the attacks without any prior acknowledgement or or articulation 128 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: of the objectives of the war from let me. 129 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 2: Make you break, Professor. Let me just take a break 130 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: here because I didn't want to run us into a 131 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 2: share time back. My guest is Professor Alibano Azizi, Boston College, 132 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 2: talking with the war in Iran. If you'd like to 133 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 2: join the conversation six one seven, two, five forward, ten 134 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 2: thirty if you have a question six one seven, nine 135 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 2: three one ten thirty back with Professor Banoazizi and your 136 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: calls or comments. Right after this, it's Nice Eyes with 137 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: Dan Ray on w b Boston's news radio. My guess 138 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: is Professor Ali Bana was Easy from Boston College. Professor. 139 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: I want to incorporate some of our listeners here because 140 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 2: I think it's important for them to have an opportunity 141 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 2: to ask you some questions as well. I think that 142 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 2: there's a lot of areas that we do not know 143 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 2: everything about this story, and at the end of the day, 144 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: the clarity that you are suggesting the Trump administration needs 145 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 2: to imparts of the American people is so important. Let 146 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: me go first off to Steve was there in Maine 147 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: and Steve were about to go to you and you 148 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: must have put yourself on hold. Let's go to Rob 149 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 2: in Boston, Rob you are first tonight or night siber Professor. 150 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: Professor Ali Bana was easy of Boston College. 151 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 4: Go right ahead, rock, good evening, gentlemen, thank you very much. 152 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 4: I have a question, Professor, what do you think Salmon 153 00:12:55,760 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 4: Rusty would be thinking? Tinly? I imagine he must. What 154 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 4: do you what do you think? Have you been in 155 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 4: touch with him at all? 156 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, in touch with. 157 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 2: Whom Salmon Rusty? 158 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: No, I haven't been no he for a while. I 159 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 3: think he's been quiet. No I am, I'm afraid I 160 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 3: haven't been. 161 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 2: For those who may not if I could, Professor, he 162 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 2: wrote Satanic verses which which basically got him into trouble, 163 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 2: and there was a fatois the sounding figure, and he 164 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 2: was recently he was recently attacked uh in upper Upstate, 165 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 2: New York and actually lost an eye. I remember, and 166 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: I tell this story to a few people. I actually 167 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 2: had dinner one night, not with him, but he was 168 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 2: sitting at an adjacent table and and I thought to myself, boy, 169 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:06,439 Speaker 2: I hope nothing that was very uncomfortable that that, but 170 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 2: but obviously he was badly injured. A man of I 171 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 2: think most most people think a man of great courage 172 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 2: at least, I. 173 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 3: Do absolutely, And that was one of the most shameful 174 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 3: acts that the Iranian leader committed. Absolutely, yeah, it was. 175 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 2: And that was this Iotola, not the Originaltola. Correct. 176 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 4: How many have there been? 177 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 3: How many I HARMANI who issued that's religious edicts or 178 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 3: fatua as you call it, not this leader. How many? Well, 179 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: I shouldn't say this leader. How many has been killed? Yes, 180 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 3: of course he had several members of his family. 181 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 2: Rob, Rob, Rob, I think had another another question, Rob, 182 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: go ahead. 183 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 4: How many i Hatolahs have been terrorizing the world for 184 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 4: the last forty nine years? Well, there's been a few 185 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 4: of them, and and it's been worldwide that they've been supporting, 186 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,800 Speaker 4: you know, Lebanon, that those those young men and the 187 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 4: two hundred and twenty soldiers and fifty eight French soldiers 188 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 4: they all were blown up, and and and their barracks 189 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 4: and Lebanon. 190 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 2: No one, no one is defending those actions. So but 191 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 2: but professor, go right ahead the question, which I think 192 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 2: is a good one. You know, I remember the Iotola 193 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 2: who arrived from Paris. He was in exile in Paris, 194 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: and then he was he was succeeded by this the 195 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 2: Comini who who who was killed in the attack. There's 196 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 2: really only been two Iatolas who have led Iran. I know. 197 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 2: If I'm wrong, please feel free to correctly. 198 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 3: No, not at all, you're right, and let me just 199 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 3: mention that there are not many many Iatolas in various 200 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 3: regions of the Middle East. The Aitolos are primarily located 201 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 3: in Iran, and many of them have not been supportive 202 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 3: of the present regime. Many of them have been critical 203 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 3: of the present regime. But unquestionably the two leading iotol las, 204 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 3: Homani who ruled for ten years from nineteen seventy nine 205 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 3: to eighty nine, and then Kamena, who led the country 206 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 3: as a Supreme leader for the past thirty seven years, 207 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 3: they bear responsibility for the actions that you referred to 208 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 3: and most recency of the suppressive actions that they took 209 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 3: against their own people. 210 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 2: I just want to steal a little bit of your time, Rob. 211 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:16,719 Speaker 2: I want to ask a question which I'm sure some 212 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 2: people are thinking and I'm thinking it, and that is, 213 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 2: how would you describe the position of of an iotola 214 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 2: as the head of government? You know, I can't think 215 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 2: of another religion. There's a you know, Christian well, Catholics, 216 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 2: Roman Catholics have the pope, who's who's the leader of 217 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:44,360 Speaker 2: the church. But these men are the leaders? Are they 218 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 2: what you would call the titular head? Are they? Are 219 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 2: they the equivalent of a King Charles or a Queen Elizabeth? 220 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 2: How would you analogize the position of an iotola within 221 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: the government the republic of a on with something that 222 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 2: we would identify with. 223 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 3: Well, this was unprecedented in the Muslim world, and it 224 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:18,160 Speaker 3: was written into a constitution that was forced through in 225 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 3: the early years, in the first two years of the 226 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 3: Iranian Revolution in nineteen seventy nine, and it was written 227 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 3: in that constitution that a leading jurist or ayatollah if 228 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 3: you will, with very high stature, would serve as the 229 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 3: supreme leader, which would be the head of the state 230 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 3: in matters of security, in various political matters and economic 231 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 3: matters and so on so forth, the supreme leader. And 232 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 3: they claimed that this was part of the religious faith 233 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 3: of Islam, which was by the way, you know, very 234 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 3: much disapproved of and resented by many many religious figures 235 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 3: in Iran and elsewhere in the Muslim world. So indeed, 236 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 3: the system that was established back in nineteen seventy nine 237 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 3: catapulted the leading ayatolat to this position of power, and 238 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 3: by doing so, in a sense, they sacralized the state. 239 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 3: They claimed that this is a holy state, much like 240 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 3: the Vatican in the pre Enlightenment area, when the Pope 241 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 3: was indeed the head of not only the religious head 242 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 3: of the state, but the acting head of the Catholic state. 243 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 2: Let me give rob a Vietifi a question. I know, 244 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 2: I kind of you. 245 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 4: I was just wondering. It seems like they've already come 246 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 4: up with two more of these clerks. There was one 247 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 4: sitting on each side of a presidential looking figure. Today 248 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 4: there was the leadership over there now appears to be 249 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 4: two more iatol is with a with a lay person 250 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 4: in the Middle's. 251 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 2: Okay, let let's get a quick reaction to that. I'm sure, professor. 252 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 3: They have created a transition team for the next few 253 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 3: days or maybe a few weeks. That includes the current president, 254 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 3: who is by the way, heart surgeon, and then two 255 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,879 Speaker 3: clerical figures. As you point out pointed out, there are 256 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 3: two iotolas, one who is the head of the judiciary, 257 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 3: and then again another very prominent ati. Though so, their 258 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 3: intention is to keep the system of a supreme leader 259 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 3: and Ayotla, who would have these vast powers in every 260 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 3: aspect of the government of the country. 261 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: Rob, Rob, I'm into the newscast, so I got to 262 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 2: let you go. But thank you very much. 263 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 4: It's fundy. You think that's gonna work. You think these 264 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 4: guys are going to be any different this. You got 265 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 4: these these idle ideological theologians that you know, they they 266 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 4: believe that you know, they're going to go see seventy 267 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 4: two virgils when they die. 268 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 2: Before you, Rob, before you go there. President Trump has 269 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 2: said that he would be willing to talk with this 270 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 2: new leadership. I'm sure he's hoping that the people who 271 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 2: might somehow rise to the level of leader might understand 272 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 2: that they have to give up the nuclear ambitions. Uh, 273 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 2: and they have to rearrange their h their relationship with 274 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:07,679 Speaker 2: a lot of the neighboring states, most particularly Israel. Robert, 275 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: I gotta let you go for now. 276 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 4: Nine years of talking. We've been talking a long you. 277 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:15,760 Speaker 2: I don't disagree with you points. I understand your points, 278 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 2: and we're going to talk about them is a little 279 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 2: bit later on as well. Thank you for now. I 280 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 2: got to take a quick break. My guest is Professor 281 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 2: Ali but it was easy Boston College. Uh, he is 282 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 2: giving us not only historical perspective, but I think a 283 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 2: perspective of what needs to be done, uh to to 284 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 2: bring this war to a to a close, which obviously 285 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 2: needs to be on conditions that are favorable to the 286 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,439 Speaker 2: Trump administration, because the Trump administration pretty much is going 287 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: to be able to bomb to their hearts content once uh, 288 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:01,959 Speaker 2: you know, once once the the anti aircraft batteries are 289 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 2: taken out, which is going to present some very interesting questions. 290 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 2: We'll take a quick break back with Professor Ali Bano 291 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 2: Azizi right after this on. 292 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 5: Boston's News Radio. 293 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 2: I'm joined by Boston College Professor Ali Bano Azizi. Professor Azizi, 294 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 2: I grew up in Iran, came to America, I was 295 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 2: educated here. You have not been back, if I recall 296 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 2: from our prior conversations, since any time before nineteen seventy nine. Correct. 297 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 3: Yes, If I were to go back, I think I 298 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 3: would be arrested at the airport. 299 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 2: I understand. 300 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 3: I have, you know, been involved in various human rights 301 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:55,920 Speaker 3: activities and so on. 302 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, which has gone. 303 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 3: I want to go back to objectives of the war. 304 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 3: We talked about Iran's nuclear program, which of course there 305 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 3: was an agreement that President Trump tore up. We talked 306 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 3: about Iran's missiles program. Let's agree that both of these 307 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 3: need to be ended, eliminated, and so on. The other 308 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:33,880 Speaker 3: objective that President Trump has acknowledged a number of times 309 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,719 Speaker 3: is to help the Yrnian people to achieve a measure 310 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 3: of freedom and democracy. He promised that as those protests 311 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 3: were going on in the month of January, and again 312 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 3: in the past two or three days, he has said 313 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,959 Speaker 3: things like, well, when we are finished, take over your government. 314 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 3: The question is, how can the Ionian people achieve that 315 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 3: measure of independence and democracy that is being promised. There's 316 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 3: no question that they want that. Seventy to eighty percent 317 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 3: of the population, according to very reliable polls that have 318 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 3: been taken some by the government itself, they reject this 319 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 3: idea of religion in politics, the role of religion in 320 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 3: all the affairs of the state. That's very clear. But 321 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 3: even if this war is finished with those first two 322 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 3: objectives fulfilled, the system is going to continue. The regime 323 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 3: is going to continue, and they're not in a position 324 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 3: to take on the regime. How are they going to 325 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 3: take on the regime that is has demonstrated its capability 326 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 3: to repress them through those massacres. 327 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 2: I think, yeah, well, you're the expert. I'm not, but 328 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 2: I think that they are hoping and I could be 329 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 2: dead wrong here. I think that they're hoping that something 330 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 2: similar to what happened in Syria happens. And there's also 331 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 2: I think if from the Trump perspective, between the Abraham Accords, 332 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 2: there is a warming of relations between Israel and many 333 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 2: of the Gulf States, and if the Trump administration is 334 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 2: successful at this, he becomes a transactional president, transformational president. 335 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 2: Excuse me, in my opinion, do you think that there's 336 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: any role that raised a Pallavi, the son of the Shah, 337 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 2: who has been in exile in this country since before 338 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:04,120 Speaker 2: nineteen seventy nine, educated in western Massachusetts, as I'm sure 339 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 2: you know, could he play a role here in your opinion? 340 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 5: Right? 341 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, in response to your earlier remark 342 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 3: that a number of Iran's neighbors are now in fact, 343 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 3: you know, after Iran attacked them in the past two 344 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 3: or three days, they are in fact taking the position 345 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,679 Speaker 3: against the Iran. Some of those are members of the 346 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 3: Abraham Court and it's entirely possible that they may join. 347 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 3: In fact, I think Catar has already joined the US 348 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 3: forces and is attacking Iran. 349 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 2: So it is. 350 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 3: Possible that there would be a regional grouping in support 351 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 3: of the US position, and the European countries are doing 352 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 3: the same. Now as to who may take over, it's 353 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 3: really very difficult to predict that. It's hoped that and 354 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 3: I hope that within around itself there would be coalitions 355 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 3: made and ultimately such coalitions could you bring about a 356 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 3: change in the regime. It would have to include some 357 00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 3: present elements of the regime to be successful. In other words, 358 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 3: some members of the revolution reguards need to be peeled 359 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 3: away from the exception. All of that needs to take place. 360 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 3: That is the hope that many people have, and I 361 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 3: would count myself among them. As to raise Palavi, Yes, 362 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 3: he is now the person, the individual who has more 363 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 3: recognition as a potential leader of the country than anybody else, 364 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 3: and we saw that in the demonstrations of January. But 365 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 3: he has been out of the country for the past 366 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 3: forty seven years and I don't know whether he would 367 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 3: be acceptable to many people. In part also, I should 368 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 3: add because of his very close association with Israel and 369 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 3: the support that he has received from Israel. And there's 370 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:35,800 Speaker 3: no question that after this war, Israel would be considered 371 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 3: by many Iranians as you know, bearing full responsibility for 372 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 3: the attacks, So that maybe something that would be tracked 373 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 3: from his you know, a heal to the Iranian public. 374 00:29:54,880 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 2: Yes, I totally understand that. Although, well, let me take 375 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 2: a quick break. I got a couple more phone calls. 376 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 2: I'd like to get to. My guest is the professor 377 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 2: who we've had on before, and I hope to have 378 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,959 Speaker 2: him on again. He's from Boston College. Professor Ali Banawazizi 379 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 2: has taught at Boston College for a very long time 380 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 2: and is a fixture on that campus, and I so 381 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,480 Speaker 2: much appreciate him being with us tonight. I have Carol 382 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 2: and Randolph and Ron and Newton. You folks stay there. 383 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 2: Are going to get you both in right after this 384 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 2: very quick break on Nightside. You're on night Side with 385 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio. Let's get to 386 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 2: phones here real quickly with my guest, Boston College professor 387 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 2: Ali Banawazizi. Let me go to Carol and Randolph. Carol 388 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 2: appreciate you calling in You're next on nightside. 389 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: Hi Dan, and hi professor. I was just my question 390 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: is how strong do you think the Budgees is and 391 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: will they survive this if economic situations change like they 392 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 1: have and Iran? How strong are they? 393 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 3: I'm sorry, how strong are the What. 394 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 2: Is the group you're talking about? Because Carolin missed that word. 395 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:25,960 Speaker 1: The bussiege, the aussig, Yes, I'm sorry, excuse me, I 396 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: couldn't pronounce it correctly. 397 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 3: Pussiege oor passage right right, well, passiege. They are the 398 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 3: informal part of the security system. They number, according to 399 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 3: estimates that we read, about a million people, and they're 400 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:54,720 Speaker 3: spread throughout the country. It's not an organized official security force, 401 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 3: but it includes individuals who can be called to action 402 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 3: when necessary, often in civilian cloths, and engage in acts 403 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 3: of repression. So they represent a real threat to the opposition, 404 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 3: and they showed that in the last round of protests, 405 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 3: so that there. 406 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 2: Were the fact volunteers. They're almost vigilantes on behalf of 407 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 2: the republic. 408 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 3: Exactly, exactly exactly, and that is one of the sources 409 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 3: of power of the system of the regime. 410 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 2: Wow, it's not going to be it's not gonna be 411 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 2: an easy job, Carol, great question. I I really enjoyed 412 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 2: that question, thank you. 413 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I how can they enforce if most 414 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 1: of the urban part of like say Tehran and others 415 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 1: go against them, how will they survive? As my question, 416 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 1: and will they be able to be a force anymore? 417 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:03,000 Speaker 2: Well, yes, the the idea of the Revolutionary Guard and 418 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 2: all of that. In addition, it's one group, and there 419 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 2: are other groups as well, right, there's a. 420 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 3: Regular army and all. But you know, you're right because 421 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:20,040 Speaker 3: at the same time, as I mentioned before, the majority 422 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 3: of the population in Iran, the most secular population in 423 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 3: the Middle East, the majority of the Iranian people are 424 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 3: now sick and tired of this regime, and they have 425 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 3: demonstrated that in the various uprisings. On the other hand, 426 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 3: these repressive forces that we just referred to, the one 427 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty thousand of well organized Islamic Revolutionary Guard, course, 428 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 3: and they volunteers, the passiege forces, they're there, you. 429 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,600 Speaker 2: Know, and the people who are seeking freedom they don't 430 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 2: have any weapons exactly. So that's that's going to be 431 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 2: a problem. Carol, great questions. I want to try to 432 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:09,839 Speaker 2: get one more in here. 433 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 5: If I can before the day. 434 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, professor, Thank you. 435 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 2: Dan, Thank you very much. Carol, appreciate Ron. You were 436 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 2: next on nice side with Professor Ali, but it was 437 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 2: easy of Boston College. 438 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:24,240 Speaker 5: Go ahead, Ron, Hi, Dan, thank you very much, professor, 439 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 5: thank you so much for being on. I have a 440 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 5: little bit of a connection with bam Iran. I'm part 441 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,960 Speaker 5: of the United States team that responded to the Damn 442 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 5: earthquake in two thousand and three. 443 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 3: Good for you, good for you. 444 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 5: There were we we gained such a close relationship with 445 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:48,759 Speaker 5: some of the physicians there. They have some smart, some 446 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:53,440 Speaker 5: very good medical institutions in Tehran where they did. Anyway, 447 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 5: I'm wondering, and I've always wondered, you know, if things, 448 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:02,680 Speaker 5: if we are RESTful and making progress here, if they 449 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 5: might be more menable to to external assistance. 450 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:12,400 Speaker 2: Great question, Great question, professor. Obviously, the one thing that 451 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 2: we could offer would be help, if you know, to 452 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,359 Speaker 2: to help the come the country get back on its 453 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 2: feet after it gets pummeled. I mean, I know people 454 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,879 Speaker 2: go see that as being ironic, but I think it's 455 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 2: I think there is a political reality to what Ron 456 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:29,760 Speaker 2: is talking about. 457 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 3: There certainly is, and you know, I'm hesitant to uh 458 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 3: to say this, but the Iranian population is probably the 459 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:48,360 Speaker 3: most pro Western population, the most educated population in the 460 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:54,799 Speaker 3: Middle East and UH, and there's no doubt that if 461 00:35:54,840 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 3: there is a change in the system in the regime, 462 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:01,720 Speaker 3: if there is a new regime, that relations would improve 463 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:09,280 Speaker 3: and they would welcome I think individuals like yourself from abroad, 464 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 3: from other countries Europe, the United States, and so on. 465 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 3: Those were the kinds of relationships that existed prior to 466 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 3: the revolution. There were seventy thousand Americans in Iran in 467 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:27,760 Speaker 3: various capacities, many of them in educational institutions, and tens 468 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 3: of thousands of Iranian students in the United States also, 469 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:37,839 Speaker 3: and the young people in Iran are extremely well connected 470 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:42,320 Speaker 3: to the rest of the world and quite well educated 471 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 3: and sophisticated. 472 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:47,840 Speaker 2: It was one of the most putting aside all the 473 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:50,760 Speaker 2: problems with the Shah, it was one of the most 474 00:36:51,280 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 2: urbane populations. It was almost European in many respects. Be 475 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 2: what what brings them back into the into what we 476 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 2: would call the political twenty twenty first century ron That 477 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 2: was a great question. Thank you so much for your call. 478 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 5: You're welcome. 479 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:15,960 Speaker 2: Thank you again. Professor as Always, thank you for your time. 480 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,360 Speaker 2: I wish I had you four hours some night we 481 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:26,640 Speaker 2: could we could solve these problems. My final question is 482 00:37:26,960 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 2: this situation in your mind eventually soluble? So is it soluble? 483 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 3: I hope that at some point the president, the President Trump, 484 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:47,600 Speaker 3: would realize that the continuation of this war without the 485 00:37:47,680 --> 00:37:51,880 Speaker 3: objective of helping the Iranian people is going to be 486 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:57,439 Speaker 3: detrimental for the region and for the United States as well. 487 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 3: I mean, the economic consequences I think you're going to 488 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:08,560 Speaker 3: be very noticeable. So let's hope that it will come 489 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 3: to an end and that kind of realization takes place 490 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 3: on the part of our administration, and more important, that 491 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:23,399 Speaker 3: the Iranian regime would realize that the past that has 492 00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:27,360 Speaker 3: pursued that it has pursued in the past few decades 493 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:33,880 Speaker 3: is no longer acceptable or feasible in this world. 494 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:37,719 Speaker 2: Well said, Well said on both sides, Professor Baros as 495 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 2: Easy of Boston College, I thank you for your time 496 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:44,880 Speaker 2: and your expertise, and I think I'm going to have 497 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 2: you back sooner than later, because I think the circumstances 498 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 2: of the world will to me and your insight and 499 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:54,120 Speaker 2: your perspective. Thank you so much again. 500 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,440 Speaker 3: Tonight, thank you, Welcome, welcome. 501 00:38:57,000 --> 00:38:59,160 Speaker 2: I want to talk with all of you about Iran. 502 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:01,600 Speaker 2: I'm going to open up the phone lines, your thoughts, 503 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:04,239 Speaker 2: your ideas, and what is you know? How do we 504 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 2: do it right? What can we do this time to 505 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 2: make it work for the Iranian people and for the 506 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:13,000 Speaker 2: United States and for Israel six one, seven, two, five, 507 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:15,399 Speaker 2: four ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten 508 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:17,879 Speaker 2: thirty Here comes the news back right after