The latest developments in Iran have provoked broader resonance across the world. Our listeners are also paying interest to these events. We present an interview with an Orientalist, an expert on Iran, Professor Vladimir Sazhin.
The situation in Iran is characterized by clashes of opinions between the authorities and the opposition. The opposition has lately staged demonstrations of protest. How can you explain this?
"This is first and foremost linked with the dissatisfaction over the policy pursued by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad-led government," says Vladimir Sazhin. "In fact, the opposition disagrees with how the government handles many issues in internal, political and economic areas. The dissatisfaction was triggered on the 12th of June when presidential elections were held. The opposition counted on victory since the majority of the 72-million-population voiced against Ahmadinejad. However, Mohammed Ahmadinejad remained as the President. And the opposition accused the rulers of falsifying the results. The authorities used tough measures to contain the opposition. However, there were visible signs of consolidation and working out new tactics under the present conditions in autumn. Protests staged by the opposition have grown in the past two months. According to mass media reports, including those coming from Iran, the dissatisfaction has spread to rural areas from cities," Vladimir Sazhin said.
You mean that this is not a struggle among the elite although it's quite possible that they are also involved. Concerning deeper reasons for the current events Professor Sazhin has this to say:
"Undoubtedly, a struggle among the elite has been going on in the past 30 years of the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran," says Vladimir Sazhin. "However, the majority of the population has lately become involved in the struggle. This is a quite dangerous development for the rulers, although I should say the struggle is taking place within the structure of the Islamic Republic, and it doesn't cross the borders as determined by the founder of the IRI, Ayatollah Homeini.
Do you want to say that this is not an attempt to shake the Islamic regime?
"At present there are no such attempts," says Vladimir Sazhin. "However, the expansion of the protest movement might spill over the frame work of the Islamic Republic, and in this case, the struggle could be aimed at eliminating the regime as a whole rather than seizing the levers of management. This is very dangerous for the authorities. I believe Teheran realizes this and does its best to avert such a development," Vladimir Sazhin said.
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