Iran opposition urges targeted sanctions against Tehran
Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009
Photographer: WashingtonTV
Mir Hossein Mousavi supporters at Azadi Square (Tehran, 15 June, 2009)
13:10GMT—8:10AM/EST
Washington, 20 November (WashingtonTV)—Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf said on Thursday that US President Barack Obama should increase his public support for Iran’s democratic movement, and intensify sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
Makhmalbaf, who has become a spokesperson outside of Iran for the main opposition movement, said that the movement supports targeted economic sanctions against Iran’s military apparatus, but not broad sanctions that could affect the Iranian people.
He also called for sanctions against foreign companies, such as Nokia and Siemens, which have sold the Iranian government equipment that can be used to track e-mails and tap phones.
“We need certain sanctions that put pressure on the government but not the people. But they must be done quickly, or they won’t have an impact,” he said during an unofficial visit to Washington, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Makhmalbaf, who was speaking at a lunch hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, rejected proposed US legislation that would target gasoline imports to Iran, saying they would hurt average people.
Other targets of sanctions should be companies that sell Iran tear gas and “instruments for torturing people,” he was quoted as saying by the Washington Times.
Although public protests in Iran have ebbed since the massive demonstrations that followed June’s disputed presidential election, Makhmalbaf said the so-called Green Movement was strong and growing.
The Obama administration, he said, could help by speaking out in favor of human rights in Iran.
“We definitely want Obama to say he supports democracy … If he doesn’t say that, he will lose his support in Iran,” he said, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The United States should not sacrifice Iran’s democracy for a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program, he said.
“Don’t only focus on the nuclear issue and allow the Iranian government to crack down on the people. You need to focus on human rights,” Makhmalbaf said.
The opposition movement opposes any military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said, arguing that it would only strengthen the government.
He also said he believes the Iranian government is incapable of making a deal on its nuclear program with the West, because the nuclear program is now fundamental to its political survival.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, Washington Times
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