- News>
- World
US has obligation to encourage Iranian protests: Powell
Shuneh (Jordan), June 22: The United States has a duty to encourage Iranian protests against the country`s regime but is not looking for a fight with the Islamic republic, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said today.
Shuneh (Jordan), June 22: The United States has a duty to encourage Iranian protests against the country's regime but is not looking for a fight with the Islamic republic, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said today.
Powell, speaking to a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at this Dead Sea resort, said recent anti-government demonstrations in Iran showed that Washington was "on the right track" with its efforts to promote democracy and reform in the Middle East.
"We know we are on the right track because we know the people of this region are calling for change, for opportunity, for education, for more than false promises and intolerant ideology and violence," he said.
"Look at what is happening in Iran," Powell said. "Students and intellectuals are out in the streets calling for change in a land that has known only shahs and ayatollahs".
"They are demanding to be part of this new Middle East," he said, referring to the reconstruction of post-war Iraq, renewed Arab-Israeli peace efforts and free market and trade reforms among various countries in the region.
Powell, who on Monday, angered Tehran by saying that the United States was "encouraging" but not "fomenting" the protests in Iran, repeated the rationale behind the US position.
"We are seeing young people speak out and march and demonstrate because they are not satisfied with the leadership they're receiving either from the political leadership or the leadership coming down from the religious leaders of the country," he said.
Bureau Report
"We know we are on the right track because we know the people of this region are calling for change, for opportunity, for education, for more than false promises and intolerant ideology and violence," he said.
"Look at what is happening in Iran," Powell said. "Students and intellectuals are out in the streets calling for change in a land that has known only shahs and ayatollahs".
"They are demanding to be part of this new Middle East," he said, referring to the reconstruction of post-war Iraq, renewed Arab-Israeli peace efforts and free market and trade reforms among various countries in the region.
Powell, who on Monday, angered Tehran by saying that the United States was "encouraging" but not "fomenting" the protests in Iran, repeated the rationale behind the US position.
"We are seeing young people speak out and march and demonstrate because they are not satisfied with the leadership they're receiving either from the political leadership or the leadership coming down from the religious leaders of the country," he said.
Bureau Report