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That's great.

2
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I should ask her what happened to

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the money because I'm taking her to

4
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Japan early May.

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So you need to spend your own money.

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I am recording, so whenever you're

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ready, see you.

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Okay, again, we're not

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live.

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It's good to introduce yourself and

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with the organization name.

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Yeah, my name is Ali Soltani.

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I am from

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the Iranian-American community of

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Wisconsin.

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We have different chapters in

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different cities.

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I think about 40 some

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states we have chapters.

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We are in Wisconsin,

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so I'm the spokesperson for the

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Iranian American community.

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How many Iranian-Americans are...

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In Wisconsin.

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I think there are about 20,000

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or so.

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But they're scattered.

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There are many students in UWM,

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but then there are a lot of people

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who work here and been here for

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years.

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There are Mouakash and Milwaukee,

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and some are even Green Bay and some

34
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other cities in Wisconsin.

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When and why did you leave Iran?

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I left in 1978,

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right before the revolution happens.

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I was going to school at a

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university in Iran.

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That was right before the

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revolution, so we had a lot

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of demonstrations.

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I spent two years in university

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in Iran, only passed like 26

45
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credits because the classes would

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cancel or, you

47
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know, because of riots and stuff.

48
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So that's what I left to continue my

49
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education here in the U.S.

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How would you describe life when

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you lived in Iran and

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before the war?

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You might not believe, but we were

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at least, we were

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watching the same shows,

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TV shows that you were watching

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here.

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Shah was kind of trying to,

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you know, it was put

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there by United States and stuff.

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So it tried to make the country

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like United States in a sense.

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So we were watch the same show.

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Life,

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much better than it's now

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economically.

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But during the Shah, there were no

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political freedoms.

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There were a

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lot of people

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who were imprisoned

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and tortured for

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political beliefs.

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He canceled all opposition

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parties, and

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he made one.

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And he told people, if you don't

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like it, either leave or

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you go to jail.

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So, economically, it was much better

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than... Now, but obviously

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it wasn't the best either,

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00:02:38,020 --> 00:02:40,079
but as far as political

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freedoms, there were no political

85
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freedoms in Iran.

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Tensions had been building for

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00:02:46,530 --> 00:02:48,509
months between the united states and

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iran uh...

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What was your reaction military

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00:02:51,590 --> 00:02:53,709
strikes began from america

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and israel

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As a spokesperson for the

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Iranian American community, we also

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support the National Council of

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Resistance of Iran, which is

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an organization.

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We have been saying for many years

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that appeasement policy will

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lead to war.

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We always have been emphasizing

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no appeasment, no war,

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help the Iranian

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people and their position

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to defeat this regime.

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The war was basically

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the result of his appeasement.

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In 2002,

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the Iranian opposition revealed

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the nuclear sites of the Iranian

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regime.

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That was 24 years ago.

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Nothing was done.

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Consequently, they actually revealed

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the missile program and all

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that stuff.

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But all these years, both

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Europe and United States, appeased

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them all those, helped them, helped

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them to a point that they made a

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beast out these guys.

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They started interfering,

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meddling in Lebanon, in Iraq,

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in Yemen, all their proxy forces.

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And it made war inevitable,

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in a sense.

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Some people, some Iranians,

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welcomed the war because they

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were fed

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up. You heard a couple of months ago

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that they attacked, they killed a

131
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lot of people in during the

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demonstrations, they shot and

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killed. Some estimates go 30,

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40,000 people they killed,

135
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and more than 50,000 they arrested.

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Summary executions, this is a very

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brutal regime.

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So some people, because they were

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fed up, they said,

140
00:04:36,710 --> 00:04:38,549
oh, United States, come and attack.

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00:04:38,550 --> 00:04:39,589
That kind of mentality.

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00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:43,109
But foreign interference will never

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00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:44,969
end up well.

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00:04:44,970 --> 00:04:46,449
In the long run.

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00:04:48,610 --> 00:04:50,909
So as Iranians

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that believe that we,

147
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the people of Iran, should be able

148
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to do something and bring about a

149
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republic, a free, democratic

150
00:04:58,350 --> 00:05:00,429
republic, we believe that

151
00:05:00,430 --> 00:05:01,709
foreign interference should not be

152
00:05:01,710 --> 00:05:03,989
there. But nobody asked us

153
00:05:03,990 --> 00:05:05,669
whether this war should be there,

154
00:05:05,670 --> 00:05:06,489
the People of Iran.

155
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It happens. We now

156
00:05:08,590 --> 00:05:11,409
want whoever is involved,

157
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U.S., Israel, and whoever,

158
00:05:13,350 --> 00:05:14,729
not to attack.

159
00:05:14,730 --> 00:05:16,809
Try to minimize the

160
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civilian casualties and also

161
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not to attack the civilian

162
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infrastructure because

163
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we don't want, after this regime

164
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falls, we need

165
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to get up and go and if we don't

166
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have any refineries, if we don t

167
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have any power stations running,

168
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it would be very hard for the

169
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Iranian people to actually get

170
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back up and join the international

171
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community.

172
00:05:37,750 --> 00:05:39,869
So we have always

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opposed

174
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foreign war.

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00:05:43,930 --> 00:05:45,989
But as we said, because of

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the result of the appeasement

177
00:05:48,150 --> 00:05:50,009
policy, it has

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made it inevitable for

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the international community to deal

180
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with the Iranian regime.

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Can we pause just one second?

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Okay.

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Is that your phone?

184
00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:06,430
Yes, someone's phone.

185
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Oh, okay, sure.

186
00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,379
Well, there's just a moment when it

187
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does.

188
00:06:22,790 --> 00:06:24,189
Can I stick it in there?

189
00:06:25,850 --> 00:06:26,929
Can you dangle it?

190
00:06:26,930 --> 00:06:27,930
Yeah.

191
00:06:28,610 --> 00:06:29,610
Okay.

192
00:06:35,850 --> 00:06:36,850
Are we ready?

193
00:06:38,050 --> 00:06:39,669
What are the discussions you're

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having with other Iranian Americans

195
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about the war?

196
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Well,

197
00:06:47,620 --> 00:06:49,639
just this

198
00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:50,640
Saturday,

199
00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:53,979
a bunch of us,

200
00:06:53,980 --> 00:06:56,039
we rented a 15-passenger van and

201
00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:57,659
a bunch of us drove to Washington,

202
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D.C.

203
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In front of

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the Capitol.

205
00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,139
We had a demonstration and

206
00:07:05,140 --> 00:07:06,959
Obviously, 14-hour

207
00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:08,179
drive, we're talking about

208
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everything.

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00:07:09,540 --> 00:07:10,540
Again, um...

210
00:07:12,570 --> 00:07:14,389
We want to make sure

211
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that the international community

212
00:07:16,450 --> 00:07:19,309
and the United States doesn't

213
00:07:19,310 --> 00:07:21,489
choose a leader for us.

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00:07:21,490 --> 00:07:24,089
We should let everybody in

215
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agreement that we want

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the Iranian people to

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select their own form of government.

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00:07:29,690 --> 00:07:32,129
We want a non-nuclear,

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secular republic based

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00:07:34,850 --> 00:07:35,850
on rule of law.

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00:07:36,770 --> 00:07:38,749
And there had been talk of this

222
00:07:38,750 --> 00:07:40,749
son of the Shah coming.

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00:07:42,050 --> 00:07:43,149
Absolutely not.

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00:07:43,150 --> 00:07:44,649
I mean, the Iranian people, after

225
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120, it's been 120 years

226
00:07:46,630 --> 00:07:48,089
since we have the constitutional

227
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revolution.

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And since then, we have had two

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monarchists and now

230
00:07:53,910 --> 00:07:56,149
the third clergyman.

231
00:07:56,150 --> 00:07:58,129
So we are not going back

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00:07:58,130 --> 00:08:00,309
to monarchy again.

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00:08:00,310 --> 00:08:02,129
There are some people

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00:08:02,130 --> 00:08:03,989
and some entities that want to

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bring him back.

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00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:07,049
But he doesn't

237
00:08:07,050 --> 00:08:08,769
have any organic support.

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Everything is manufactured.

239
00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:11,939
It's made for TV.

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00:08:11,940 --> 00:08:14,659
And create it so

241
00:08:14,660 --> 00:08:16,999
we don't want that we want uh...

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Actually the uh...

243
00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:19,919
Iranian opposition national council

244
00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,879
resistance of iran which the

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leader is a woman called mariam

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00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,479
rajavi she has a ten

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00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,499
point plan uh...

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February twenty eight of this year

249
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:30,619
she announced the formation of

250
00:08:30,620 --> 00:08:32,699
a provisional government that

251
00:08:32,700 --> 00:08:34,479
will take over after the fall of

252
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this regime that provisinal

253
00:08:36,299 --> 00:08:38,658
government's task is to uh...

254
00:08:38,659 --> 00:08:40,979
Have a constituent assembly which

255
00:08:40,980 --> 00:08:42,599
will uh...

256
00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,899
Right a you know which will actually

257
00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:47,039
uh... Based on the uh...

258
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Free and fair election uh...

259
00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,099
Will have that and then will

260
00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:52,619
write a uh...

261
00:08:52,620 --> 00:08:54,639
Constitution new constitution for

262
00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:55,640
a republic

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00:08:56,780 --> 00:08:57,619
uh...

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00:08:57,620 --> 00:08:59,459
That her ten-point plan is about

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uh... Freedom of uh...

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00:09:01,900 --> 00:09:02,899
Press uh...

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00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:04,699
Gender equality uh...

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00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,839
Non-nuclear iran and

269
00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,759
uh... You know, market economy,

270
00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,779
and... Basically in separation of

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00:09:11,780 --> 00:09:13,479
church and state, or religion and

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00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:14,319
state.

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00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,299
It's a very democratic, we

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00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:18,239
have the majority

275
00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,079
of U.S. Senate and Congress support

276
00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,039
us. More than 4,000

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00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,599
parliamentarians from around the

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00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,439
world support this plan.

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00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,619
So all of a sudden coming, you know,

280
00:09:27,620 --> 00:09:29,679
creating this so-called crown

281
00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:31,599
prince, and putting

282
00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,179
it there, it infuriates

283
00:09:34,180 --> 00:09:35,549
a lot of us.

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00:09:35,550 --> 00:09:36,989
That where the heck did this come

285
00:09:36,990 --> 00:09:39,009
from? This guy was sitting in exile

286
00:09:39,010 --> 00:09:40,869
for 45 years, had nothing to do

287
00:09:40,870 --> 00:09:42,029
with anything.

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00:09:42,030 --> 00:09:43,469
He has repeatedly said that he

289
00:09:43,470 --> 00:09:44,889
doesn't wanna go back to Iran, he's

290
00:09:44,890 --> 00:09:46,249
not this. All of a sudden he's

291
00:09:46,250 --> 00:09:48,449
pumped and propped up by

292
00:09:48,450 --> 00:09:50,409
some entities trying to

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00:09:50,410 --> 00:09:52,309
make a leader out of him.

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00:09:52,310 --> 00:09:54,109
And that kind of gets a lot of

295
00:09:54,110 --> 00:09:56,029
people upset that we

296
00:09:56,030 --> 00:09:57,489
have had an opposition that has

297
00:09:57,490 --> 00:10:00,209
fought for 47 years,

298
00:10:00,210 --> 00:10:02,189
continuously, not just showing

299
00:10:02,190 --> 00:10:04,429
up at the last moment and trying to

300
00:10:04,430 --> 00:10:05,859
steal, in a sense.

301
00:10:05,860 --> 00:10:07,219
The revolution.

302
00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:09,139
That's what our concern is right

303
00:10:09,140 --> 00:10:10,539
now. That is what we are worried

304
00:10:10,540 --> 00:10:11,419
about.

305
00:10:11,420 --> 00:10:12,439
We don't want that.

306
00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:13,639
We want the international community

307
00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,339
to recognize the right of our people

308
00:10:15,340 --> 00:10:17,379
to select our own form of

309
00:10:17,380 --> 00:10:19,099
government and our own system of

310
00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:20,999
government, and parliaments and all

311
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,000
that.

312
00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,379
Moving to family now,

313
00:10:26,380 --> 00:10:27,799
have you been in contact with

314
00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:29,119
friends and family that you have in

315
00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:29,649
Iran?

316
00:10:29,650 --> 00:10:30,650
Yes.

317
00:10:31,910 --> 00:10:34,809
Internet is cut off, right?

318
00:10:34,810 --> 00:10:36,909
So my sister just

319
00:10:36,910 --> 00:10:39,249
yesterday, through landline,

320
00:10:39,250 --> 00:10:40,129
had called me.

321
00:10:40,130 --> 00:10:41,949
I walked out of my office and there

322
00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:42,950
was a voicemail.

323
00:10:44,270 --> 00:10:46,449
And then my nieces are

324
00:10:46,450 --> 00:10:48,329
one in California, one in Michigan.

325
00:10:48,330 --> 00:10:49,929
My brother is in Florida, so they

326
00:10:49,930 --> 00:10:52,609
all have talked to them in

327
00:10:52,610 --> 00:10:53,610
some way. Thank you.

328
00:10:55,270 --> 00:10:56,829
They all have moved to smaller

329
00:10:56,830 --> 00:10:58,669
cities so they're not

330
00:10:58,670 --> 00:11:00,709
in Tehran anymore uh...

331
00:11:00,710 --> 00:11:03,109
Because most of the bombardments

332
00:11:03,110 --> 00:11:05,109
been in Teheran so they moved

333
00:11:05,110 --> 00:11:06,969
in smaller cities

334
00:11:06,970 --> 00:11:08,369
in Iran so they are safe

335
00:11:12,890 --> 00:11:14,969
So the internet's been cut off.

336
00:11:14,970 --> 00:11:16,849
They can call out,

337
00:11:16,850 --> 00:11:18,199
I've heard, right?

338
00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,159
Call from with landline not through

339
00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,719
internet because before we were

340
00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,859
using WhatsApp on Telegram

341
00:11:23,860 --> 00:11:25,899
or Instagram,

342
00:11:25,900 --> 00:11:27,899
you know for Being in

343
00:11:27,900 --> 00:11:30,059
contact, but they've used landlines

344
00:11:30,060 --> 00:11:31,669
to call

345
00:11:31,670 --> 00:11:33,729
Okay, what are you hearing about how

346
00:11:33,730 --> 00:11:34,850
bad the war is there?

347
00:11:35,940 --> 00:11:37,899
Well We

348
00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:39,779
have the satellite, we watched the

349
00:11:39,780 --> 00:11:41,039
satellite.

350
00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,219
I talked to my

351
00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:45,299
niece that I talked to her mom,

352
00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,199
even in the small cities, a couple

353
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,419
places where these are the garrisons

354
00:11:51,420 --> 00:11:54,179
and the security forces,

355
00:11:54,180 --> 00:11:55,460
places that have been hit.

356
00:11:56,680 --> 00:11:58,579
She knew about those, but Tehran

357
00:11:58,580 --> 00:12:00,399
is really, a lot

358
00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,219
of people hear a lot of

359
00:12:02,220 --> 00:12:03,559
loud noises, the bombing,

360
00:12:04,740 --> 00:12:06,419
and scare some people, of course.

361
00:12:07,830 --> 00:12:09,329
Most of the bombing has been in

362
00:12:09,330 --> 00:12:11,149
Tehran and big cities,

363
00:12:11,150 --> 00:12:13,129
not small villages or small

364
00:12:13,130 --> 00:12:14,130
towns.

365
00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:17,659
Do you fear continued

366
00:12:17,660 --> 00:12:19,499
military action and do you

367
00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:21,859
fear troops in

368
00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:23,119
Iran?

369
00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,460
That's a good question.

370
00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,000
You see,

371
00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,479
this regime cannot be

372
00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,259
overthrown by airstrikes.

373
00:12:33,260 --> 00:12:35,179
You need people on

374
00:12:35,180 --> 00:12:37,239
the ground to fight these Basijis

375
00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,539
and militias and the IRGC

376
00:12:39,540 --> 00:12:41,139
and all the members of the

377
00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:42,140
suppressive forces.

378
00:12:44,590 --> 00:12:47,049
So U.S., either

379
00:12:47,050 --> 00:12:48,449
what happens is that either U.

380
00:12:48,450 --> 00:12:50,509
S. Or Israel have to

381
00:12:50,510 --> 00:12:52,449
put boots on the ground, which

382
00:12:52,450 --> 00:12:53,909
is for a country like Iran, 90

383
00:12:53,910 --> 00:12:56,469
million is a large country.

384
00:12:56,470 --> 00:12:57,710
It's very hard.

385
00:12:59,010 --> 00:13:00,849
Or we should rely on the people

386
00:13:00,850 --> 00:13:02,909
of Iran. We have an organized armed

387
00:13:02,910 --> 00:13:04,669
resistance inside Iran.

388
00:13:05,910 --> 00:13:08,089
Actually a couple of weeks ago,

389
00:13:08,090 --> 00:13:09,789
right before a few days, three, four

390
00:13:09,790 --> 00:13:11,969
days before the attacked the

391
00:13:11,970 --> 00:13:13,549
compound of Khamenei and killed

392
00:13:13,550 --> 00:13:15,020
them. Supreme leader,

393
00:13:16,220 --> 00:13:18,279
this armed opposition, 250 members

394
00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,379
of the armed opposition of

395
00:13:20,380 --> 00:13:22,499
the MEK, Mujahidin Khal,

396
00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:24,359
they attacked that

397
00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,939
compound, 150 of them,

398
00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:28,559
hundreds of them unfortunately died

399
00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:30,479
and got arrested.

400
00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:31,979
Their names have been given to

401
00:13:31,980 --> 00:13:33,939
United Nations Human Rights

402
00:13:33,940 --> 00:13:36,199
Organization and then 150

403
00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,139
of them turned back to

404
00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:39,499
their bases.

405
00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:41,399
What I'm saying is that

406
00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,229
the organi- There

407
00:13:43,230 --> 00:13:45,189
is an organized resistance

408
00:13:45,190 --> 00:13:47,469
armed in Iran.

409
00:13:47,470 --> 00:13:49,289
We should help them rather

410
00:13:49,290 --> 00:13:51,969
than try to bring U.S.

411
00:13:51,970 --> 00:13:54,189
Or Israeli troops

412
00:13:54,190 --> 00:13:54,969
on the ground.

413
00:13:54,970 --> 00:13:55,909
It would be very hard.

414
00:13:55,910 --> 00:13:57,769
It would much easier for

415
00:13:57,770 --> 00:13:59,709
the Iranian people to do it that

416
00:13:59,710 --> 00:14:01,729
way because they know everything.

417
00:14:01,730 --> 00:14:03,089
They know who these people are, they

418
00:14:03,090 --> 00:14:05,449
know where they live, they can

419
00:14:05,450 --> 00:14:06,989
fight them.

420
00:14:06,990 --> 00:14:08,429
So that would be the best solution

421
00:14:08,430 --> 00:14:09,430
for us.

422
00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:10,920
Okay.

423
00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,519
When the military strike is over

424
00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,339
and has ended, what are your

425
00:14:16,340 --> 00:14:18,259
hopes for the

426
00:14:18,260 --> 00:14:18,429
country?

427
00:14:18,430 --> 00:14:19,430
Well

428
00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:22,579
Hopefully, this regime will fall

429
00:14:22,580 --> 00:14:24,759
if they manage

430
00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:25,980
to stay in power.

431
00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:30,959
Again, our fight is not over,

432
00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:32,479
right?

433
00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,839
We're hoping that, again,

434
00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:36,439
the organized opposition of Iran

435
00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:38,539
will be able to overthrow this

436
00:14:38,540 --> 00:14:40,499
regime and bring a

437
00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:42,599
democratic, secular, non-nuclear

438
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,659
Iran, republic for

439
00:14:44,660 --> 00:14:45,439
Iran.

440
00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,779
If that doesn't happen shortly,

441
00:14:48,780 --> 00:14:50,249
I mean, we'll continue.

442
00:14:50,250 --> 00:14:53,009
Again, I don't,

443
00:14:53,010 --> 00:14:54,609
the aerial bombardment is not going

444
00:14:54,610 --> 00:14:56,069
to do it.

445
00:14:56,070 --> 00:14:57,429
I'm hoping that U.S.

446
00:14:57,430 --> 00:14:59,269
Doesn't put boots on the ground

447
00:14:59,270 --> 00:15:01,349
because if that happens it's

448
00:15:01,350 --> 00:15:03,289
going to be a lot of, it's not going

449
00:15:03,290 --> 00:15:05,169
be, it going to be messy, I

450
00:15:05,170 --> 00:15:06,309
should say.

451
00:15:06,310 --> 00:15:08,069
It's not gonna be that clean,

452
00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:09,909
regardless of what they do.

453
00:15:09,910 --> 00:15:11,989
Again, they have some estimates

454
00:15:11,990 --> 00:15:13,829
of one million Basiji

455
00:15:13,830 --> 00:15:14,909
forces. As best as you are the

456
00:15:14,910 --> 00:15:16,929
militia, plain-clothes people

457
00:15:16,930 --> 00:15:17,959
that...

458
00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,699
They killed a lot of people a couple

459
00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:21,579
of months ago in the streets.

460
00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:23,539
So it would be hard for a

461
00:15:23,540 --> 00:15:25,419
small number of troops to go there

462
00:15:25,420 --> 00:15:27,439
and do what they need

463
00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:27,969
to do to over-

464
00:15:27,970 --> 00:15:30,289
overthrow the regime.

465
00:15:30,290 --> 00:15:31,409
What are your thoughts about the

466
00:15:31,410 --> 00:15:32,969
anti-war protests here in the United

467
00:15:32,970 --> 00:15:34,829
States and those who feel that

468
00:15:34,830 --> 00:15:36,569
America shouldn't be waging this war

469
00:15:36,570 --> 00:15:37,570
at all?

470
00:15:38,329 --> 00:15:39,909
Well, as I said,

471
00:15:42,470 --> 00:15:44,669
this regime, the war is basically

472
00:15:44,670 --> 00:15:45,929
the fault of this regime.

473
00:15:47,630 --> 00:15:49,809
It threatens Israel.

474
00:15:49,810 --> 00:15:52,029
And you saw that they actually

475
00:15:52,030 --> 00:15:53,269
attacked all the neighboring

476
00:15:53,270 --> 00:15:54,549
countries that were supposedly

477
00:15:54,550 --> 00:15:55,609
friends with Iran.

478
00:15:55,610 --> 00:15:58,609
They were actually trying to

479
00:15:58,610 --> 00:16:00,669
facilitate the talks,

480
00:16:00,670 --> 00:16:02,569
Oman, Kuwait,

481
00:16:02,570 --> 00:16:03,609
United Arab Emirates.

482
00:16:03,610 --> 00:16:05,069
These people have been the ones that

483
00:16:05,070 --> 00:16:06,649
have been appeasing the Mullahs and

484
00:16:06,650 --> 00:16:08,249
helped them all those.

485
00:16:08,250 --> 00:16:10,629
Every way you can imagine,

486
00:16:10,630 --> 00:16:13,729
yet they attack them with missiles.

487
00:16:13,730 --> 00:16:15,709
So this is a regime that has

488
00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:18,769
brought this onto itself by,

489
00:16:18,770 --> 00:16:20,249
they have been saying from the very

490
00:16:20,250 --> 00:16:21,629
beginning, death to America, death

491
00:16:21,630 --> 00:16:23,409
through Israel, and then they also

492
00:16:23,410 --> 00:16:25,689
say death to Munaferin,

493
00:16:25,690 --> 00:16:27,629
which is the name they give to the

494
00:16:27,630 --> 00:16:28,649
opposition movement,

495
00:16:29,810 --> 00:16:31,329
the mujahideen.

496
00:16:31,330 --> 00:16:33,169
So this

497
00:16:33,170 --> 00:16:34,829
has been brought up by the regime.

498
00:16:34,830 --> 00:16:36,849
I understand that people are against

499
00:16:36,850 --> 00:16:37,659
the war.

500
00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:39,499
But imagine

501
00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:41,719
if this regime would have had

502
00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:42,980
the nuclear weapon.

503
00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:45,499
Imagine one of those missiles would

504
00:16:45,500 --> 00:16:47,399
have been a nuclear weapon,

505
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,799
armed with a nuclear weapon.

506
00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,099
What would have happened?

507
00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:51,559
So the appeasement policy,

508
00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,479
unfortunately not

509
00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,619
stopping this regime earlier,

510
00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:57,939
has brought this up on

511
00:16:57,940 --> 00:16:59,979
to the international community.

512
00:16:59,980 --> 00:17:01,839
I wouldn't think there was any other

513
00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,719
choice except, again, for

514
00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,179
them, because our position.

515
00:17:07,349 --> 00:17:09,949
Few years ago, many in 19,

516
00:17:09,950 --> 00:17:11,549
I think it was 90 or something

517
00:17:11,550 --> 00:17:13,949
around that time, US

518
00:17:13,950 --> 00:17:15,769
disarmed all

519
00:17:15,770 --> 00:17:17,729
our opposition movement in Iraq, who

520
00:17:17,730 --> 00:17:19,889
were in Iraq and took

521
00:17:19,890 --> 00:17:22,309
all their weapons and

522
00:17:22,310 --> 00:17:24,149
armored vehicles and all that.

523
00:17:24,150 --> 00:17:26,169
So it was a way for

524
00:17:26,170 --> 00:17:27,909
Iranian people to go and overthrow

525
00:17:27,910 --> 00:17:29,769
these people, but they

526
00:17:29,770 --> 00:17:31,189
disarmed them. So that's why the

527
00:17:31,190 --> 00:17:33,109
opposition actually started having

528
00:17:33,110 --> 00:17:34,989
the rebel units inside Iran

529
00:17:34,990 --> 00:17:36,309
organize that and have that.

530
00:17:37,980 --> 00:17:40,499
A war, to

531
00:17:40,500 --> 00:17:42,839
me, was inevitable because

532
00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,199
this regime brought it onto itself.

533
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,699
The alternative would have been to

534
00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:49,459
let this regime get

535
00:17:49,460 --> 00:17:50,480
nuclear weapons,

536
00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,679
or would have been to

537
00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:55,099
help the Iranian opposition,

538
00:17:56,740 --> 00:17:58,499
which it seems like some people with

539
00:17:58,500 --> 00:17:59,819
the appeasement policy didn't want

540
00:17:59,820 --> 00:18:01,000
to do that. So.

541
00:18:02,460 --> 00:18:05,199
No, war is not good, we understand,

542
00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:06,859
but sometimes it's inevitable.

543
00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,159
Again, we don't support the

544
00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,019
foreign wars, but

545
00:18:12,020 --> 00:18:14,019
put yourself in the shoes of

546
00:18:14,020 --> 00:18:15,240
United States and Israel.

547
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:19,939
This regime does not hesitate

548
00:18:19,940 --> 00:18:21,899
to kill its own people

549
00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:23,059
by the thousands.

550
00:18:23,060 --> 00:18:25,519
Imagine what happens to Israel,

551
00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,819
which they see as

552
00:18:27,820 --> 00:18:28,820
their enemy.

553
00:18:29,540 --> 00:18:31,419
So I think it's the

554
00:18:31,420 --> 00:18:32,859
Iranian regime and also the

555
00:18:32,860 --> 00:18:34,739
appeasement policy that has brought

556
00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:35,740
this war.

557
00:18:41,020 --> 00:18:44,259
The Trump administration has

558
00:18:44,260 --> 00:18:46,179
said that their reason for this

559
00:18:46,180 --> 00:18:48,759
war is to stop the development of

560
00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,119
Iran from having nuclear weapons.

561
00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:52,059
What do you think of that as

562
00:18:52,060 --> 00:18:53,979
justification for the

563
00:18:53,980 --> 00:18:54,980
military strikes?

564
00:18:55,630 --> 00:18:57,589
I think that is

565
00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:59,629
a fair assessment in a

566
00:18:59,630 --> 00:19:00,630
sense.

567
00:19:01,230 --> 00:19:03,229
I mean, short of having

568
00:19:03,230 --> 00:19:05,129
conspiracy theories about, you

569
00:19:05,130 --> 00:19:07,169
know, expansion of the United States

570
00:19:07,170 --> 00:19:09,349
or Israel or this stuff,

571
00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:11,409
short term, I think,

572
00:19:11,410 --> 00:19:13,449
that is very legitimate

573
00:19:13,450 --> 00:19:15,469
reasoning in

574
00:19:15,470 --> 00:19:17,589
a sense that if

575
00:19:17,590 --> 00:19:19,609
our opposition had not revealed

576
00:19:19,610 --> 00:19:21,809
in 2002,

577
00:19:21,810 --> 00:19:22,850
Natanz and Iraq,

578
00:19:24,090 --> 00:19:25,669
the sites of clear, you know.

579
00:19:25,670 --> 00:19:27,589
Facilities, they would have had

580
00:19:27,590 --> 00:19:28,869
nuclear weapons by now.

581
00:19:30,330 --> 00:19:32,709
And they have always, regardless,

582
00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:34,609
even in JCPOA when they had the

583
00:19:34,610 --> 00:19:36,349
agreements with during the Obama

584
00:19:36,350 --> 00:19:38,369
administration, they were

585
00:19:38,370 --> 00:19:40,289
cheating. They were actually,

586
00:19:40,290 --> 00:19:41,329
apparently, they we're doing all

587
00:19:41,330 --> 00:19:43,169
this stuff because they see

588
00:19:43,170 --> 00:19:45,409
nuclear weapons as their

589
00:19:45,410 --> 00:19:47,309
guarantee for their survival.

590
00:19:47,310 --> 00:19:49,249
They see that as, like

591
00:19:49,250 --> 00:19:51,289
North Korea, if you had a nuclear

592
00:19:51,290 --> 00:19:52,589
weapon, nobody could have attacked

593
00:19:52,590 --> 00:19:54,149
us, that kind of mentality.

594
00:19:54,150 --> 00:19:55,559
So...

595
00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,379
And once they do it,

596
00:19:57,380 --> 00:19:59,219
they have proxy forces, Hamas,

597
00:19:59,220 --> 00:20:01,679
Hezbollah, Houthis in Yemen,

598
00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,959
Hashd al-Shabi and other

599
00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,599
proxy forces in Iraq.

600
00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:09,579
And even in Venezuela,

601
00:20:09,580 --> 00:20:11,419
the IRGC had a

602
00:20:11,420 --> 00:20:13,319
lot of posts

603
00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,079
there and a lot places that they

604
00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:16,399
were there.

605
00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,089
So it's

606
00:20:20,090 --> 00:20:21,809
It is true, I mean they have even

607
00:20:21,810 --> 00:20:24,009
states that nuclear weapon and also

608
00:20:24,010 --> 00:20:26,489
their missile

609
00:20:26,490 --> 00:20:29,769
capabilities.

610
00:20:29,770 --> 00:20:31,909
Because if they would have

611
00:20:31,910 --> 00:20:33,749
had long-range intercontinental

612
00:20:33,750 --> 00:20:35,389
missiles to the United States, they

613
00:20:35,390 --> 00:20:36,609
would've used it.

614
00:20:36,610 --> 00:20:38,709
Because they have bombarded every,

615
00:20:38,710 --> 00:20:40,769
they have attacked every U.S.

616
00:20:40,770 --> 00:20:43,169
Consulate or military bases in

617
00:20:43,170 --> 00:20:44,809
the Middle East, what would have

618
00:20:44,810 --> 00:20:45,969
stopped them?

619
00:20:45,970 --> 00:20:48,029
They actually did one

620
00:20:48,030 --> 00:20:49,479
in Cyprus.

621
00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,439
And yesterday I heard

622
00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,359
that Turkey actually

623
00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:55,379
downed one of their missiles.

624
00:20:55,380 --> 00:20:58,179
So they don't hesitate to

625
00:20:58,180 --> 00:21:00,019
attack any country that they

626
00:21:00,020 --> 00:21:01,020
see hostile to them.

627
00:21:02,770 --> 00:21:06,229
I've seen some discussion that

628
00:21:06,230 --> 00:21:08,329
the Iranian regime is

629
00:21:08,330 --> 00:21:10,329
threatening

630
00:21:10,330 --> 00:21:11,969
Iranians outside of the United

631
00:21:11,970 --> 00:21:13,389
States. Are you concerned about

632
00:21:13,390 --> 00:21:13,819
this?

633
00:21:13,820 --> 00:21:15,799
As I was talking to you

634
00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,659
earlier, I've been myself the victim

635
00:21:17,660 --> 00:21:18,660
of that.

636
00:21:19,740 --> 00:21:20,579
Tell me about that.

637
00:21:20,580 --> 00:21:21,859
What happened in those situations?

638
00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,339
That special incident you're talking

639
00:21:25,340 --> 00:21:26,340
about?

640
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,659
I saw that was 1993,

641
00:21:29,660 --> 00:21:30,660
I believe.

642
00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:34,659
I saw somebody had

643
00:21:34,660 --> 00:21:36,719
scratched my car and wrote some

644
00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,719
graffiti on my car the

645
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,679
first day and then two

646
00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,219
days, three days later I was out

647
00:21:42,220 --> 00:21:43,539
with a friend.

648
00:21:43,540 --> 00:21:44,479
And uh...

649
00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,379
It was in a it was his birthday so

650
00:21:46,380 --> 00:21:48,299
we went to a bar and then

651
00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:50,499
all of a sudden somebody came and uh

652
00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:52,619
told the bartender the

653
00:21:52,620 --> 00:21:54,459
security in the bar that i have

654
00:21:54,460 --> 00:21:55,979
stolen their wallet now we just got

655
00:21:55,980 --> 00:21:57,919
in that bar nothing this guy

656
00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:59,999
big black dude and

657
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,019
uh i was like telling the guy no

658
00:22:02,020 --> 00:22:03,119
i didn't all of the sudden he

659
00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:05,179
punched my face right then

660
00:22:05,180 --> 00:22:06,859
bloody obviously the bars don't want

661
00:22:06,860 --> 00:22:08,799
to have anything reported from

662
00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,639
their bar so they kicked us out I

663
00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,479
went across the street, Pizza Man

664
00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:13,509
in North Avenue.

665
00:22:13,510 --> 00:22:15,329
And they wouldn't let me call the

666
00:22:15,330 --> 00:22:17,209
police either get out once I got

667
00:22:17,210 --> 00:22:19,109
out two people from the car

668
00:22:19,110 --> 00:22:20,689
parked on the side of street He came

669
00:22:20,690 --> 00:22:21,789
with the brass knuckles started

670
00:22:21,790 --> 00:22:23,789
hitting me on the street.

671
00:22:23,790 --> 00:22:25,789
So they left and he broke my nose

672
00:22:25,790 --> 00:22:27,369
I went to the hospital right by that

673
00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:28,969
north. I don't know St. Mary's or

674
00:22:28,970 --> 00:22:31,049
whatever it is I

675
00:22:31,050 --> 00:22:32,669
went there and and that was it the

676
00:22:32,670 --> 00:22:34,269
police came and said who was it?

677
00:22:34,270 --> 00:22:36,429
I said, I have no idea these two

678
00:22:36,430 --> 00:22:38,329
big black guys, you know They

679
00:22:38,330 --> 00:22:40,229
were hired gone obviously and then

680
00:22:40,230 --> 00:22:41,729
I got a call and next time you won't

681
00:22:41,730 --> 00:22:43,249
be that lucky. I said okay That's

682
00:22:43,250 --> 00:22:44,989
fine. You can do whatever you want,

683
00:22:44,990 --> 00:22:47,869
but I'm not going to stop.

684
00:22:47,870 --> 00:22:49,309
So, yeah, I mean, they have killed a

685
00:22:49,310 --> 00:22:50,430
lot of people in Europe.

686
00:22:53,390 --> 00:22:54,519
They don't... Hesitate.

687
00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,379
That's why you can't find a

688
00:22:56,380 --> 00:22:58,299
lot of people interview you.

689
00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:01,099
Because there's always a danger.

690
00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:02,979
They just heard that they said

691
00:23:02,980 --> 00:23:05,119
that they will confiscate the

692
00:23:05,120 --> 00:23:06,939
properties of anybody outside Iran

693
00:23:06,940 --> 00:23:08,239
who has been in these

694
00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:09,240
demonstrations.

695
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:11,379
Inside Iran, you know, their

696
00:23:11,380 --> 00:23:12,979
property, whatever they have.

697
00:23:12,980 --> 00:23:14,459
So yeah, there's always a dangerous

698
00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:16,799
there, but there

699
00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,659
are people that are being killed, so

700
00:23:18,660 --> 00:23:20,119
this is nothing compared to that.

701
00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:23,539
Are you concerned about how

702
00:23:23,540 --> 00:23:25,499
attitudes towards

703
00:23:25,500 --> 00:23:27,359
Iranians may change

704
00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:29,219
if the war continues and American

705
00:23:29,220 --> 00:23:30,779
soldiers are hurt or killed?

706
00:23:35,150 --> 00:23:36,989
During 1979, as I told

707
00:23:36,990 --> 00:23:38,669
you, I was in Madison, there was a

708
00:23:38,670 --> 00:23:39,969
hostage crisis.

709
00:23:39,970 --> 00:23:41,929
I personally, that was even

710
00:23:41,930 --> 00:23:43,469
worse because there were a lot of

711
00:23:43,470 --> 00:23:44,989
people that supported that regime at

712
00:23:44,990 --> 00:23:46,309
the time. It just had come, people

713
00:23:46,310 --> 00:23:48,289
thought Khomeini was this

714
00:23:48,290 --> 00:23:50,129
godly man that is holy

715
00:23:50,130 --> 00:23:51,689
and this and that and they were

716
00:23:51,690 --> 00:23:53,549
fooled by this charisma

717
00:23:53,550 --> 00:23:55,109
he had.

718
00:23:55,110 --> 00:23:56,969
Even then, I personally did not

719
00:23:56,970 --> 00:23:58,429
have any issue with anybody because

720
00:23:58,430 --> 00:24:00,849
people bottom person-to-person

721
00:24:00,850 --> 00:24:02,129
are the same.

722
00:24:02,130 --> 00:24:04,089
You can always find zealots that

723
00:24:04,090 --> 00:24:06,749
are, you know, extreme and do stuff.

724
00:24:06,750 --> 00:24:08,629
But fortunately now a lot of people

725
00:24:08,630 --> 00:24:10,669
know that the Iranian people are

726
00:24:10,670 --> 00:24:12,689
themselves against this regime.

727
00:24:12,690 --> 00:24:14,169
Eighty, ninety percent of the people

728
00:24:14,170 --> 00:24:16,009
oppose this regime, they don't,

729
00:24:16,010 --> 00:24:17,389
that's why some of them, as I said,

730
00:24:17,390 --> 00:24:19,869
they're happy that US even attacked.

731
00:24:19,870 --> 00:24:22,249
So as long as people realize

732
00:24:22,250 --> 00:24:23,529
that there's a distinction between

733
00:24:23,530 --> 00:24:25,309
the Iranian regime and the Iranian

734
00:24:25,310 --> 00:24:27,309
People, I don't think you'll

735
00:24:27,310 --> 00:24:28,529
see much of that.

736
00:24:28,530 --> 00:24:30,429
And I think a lot people do realize

737
00:24:30,430 --> 00:24:31,309
that. That.

738
00:24:31,310 --> 00:24:32,310
Okay.

739
00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:34,119
We've covered a lot of ground.

740
00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:35,139
Is there anything that I didn't ask

741
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:36,319
that's important?

742
00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:38,369
Um No, it's just

743
00:24:38,370 --> 00:24:40,249
I wanted to, again, once more, I

744
00:24:40,250 --> 00:24:42,069
wanted to emphasize that

745
00:24:42,070 --> 00:24:44,169
we want the

746
00:24:44,170 --> 00:24:46,389
US, the international community,

747
00:24:46,390 --> 00:24:48,389
to let the Iranians, after 120

748
00:24:48,390 --> 00:24:50,689
years of fighting for freedom,

749
00:24:50,690 --> 00:24:52,409
we don't want to go back to another

750
00:24:52,410 --> 00:24:54,089
dictatorship. Doesn't matter how you

751
00:24:54,090 --> 00:24:56,609
sugarcoat it, it's a dictatorship.

752
00:24:56,610 --> 00:24:58,489
We don't to go to one-man

753
00:24:58,490 --> 00:25:00,589
rule. We want no clergy,

754
00:25:00,590 --> 00:25:03,269
we want no shah,

755
00:25:03,270 --> 00:25:06,109
we want a non-nuclear,

756
00:25:06,110 --> 00:25:07,110
secular...

757
00:25:08,010 --> 00:25:09,929
Democratic republic based

758
00:25:09,930 --> 00:25:11,869
on rule of law that if you don't

759
00:25:11,870 --> 00:25:13,769
like somebody you can vote them up

760
00:25:13,770 --> 00:25:15,769
right just like us just like france

761
00:25:15,770 --> 00:25:17,589
just like many democratic countries

762
00:25:17,590 --> 00:25:18,889
and uh...

763
00:25:18,890 --> 00:25:20,910
This is what we want we want

764
00:25:22,550 --> 00:25:24,689
us and every other country

765
00:25:24,690 --> 00:25:26,869
to recognize our right

766
00:25:26,870 --> 00:25:28,829
to choose our own form

767
00:25:28,830 --> 00:25:30,689
of government that is

768
00:25:30,690 --> 00:25:32,629
what's dear to us and that's what

769
00:25:32,630 --> 00:25:34,429
actually in the long run is for the

770
00:25:34,430 --> 00:25:35,349
benefit.

771
00:25:35,350 --> 00:25:37,069
Of iran and the international

772
00:25:37,070 --> 00:25:38,729
community imagine what would have

773
00:25:38,730 --> 00:25:40,109
happened in nineteen seventy nine if

774
00:25:40,110 --> 00:25:41,209
you really would have had a

775
00:25:41,210 --> 00:25:43,129
democratic none

776
00:25:43,130 --> 00:25:44,769
of this would have happen in the

777
00:25:44,770 --> 00:25:46,669
middle east you know iran would

778
00:25:46,670 --> 00:25:47,969
have been part of the international

779
00:25:47,970 --> 00:25:49,929
communities a very rich

780
00:25:49,930 --> 00:25:52,069
country you know

781
00:25:52,070 --> 00:25:54,549
long heritage we have

782
00:25:54,550 --> 00:25:56,709
relatively smart people so

783
00:25:56,710 --> 00:25:58,389
uh... It would have in a good

784
00:25:58,390 --> 00:26:00,209
country to have in the least like

785
00:26:00,210 --> 00:26:02,649
any you know, many countries,

786
00:26:02,650 --> 00:26:04,009
progressive countries in the Middle

787
00:26:04,010 --> 00:26:05,010
East.

788
00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,059
Okay, thank you so much for your

789
00:26:08,060 --> 00:26:10,479
time. Thank you.

790
00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,019
Do we need to do room tone do you

791
00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:13,020
think?

792
00:26:13,270 --> 00:26:14,539
Um, no, it's okay.

793
00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:16,219
No? Okay.

794
00:26:16,220 --> 00:26:17,220
Thank you so much.