Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
Throughout the country Iranians’ sense of alienation vis-a-vis their leaders is palpable and transcends socio-economic class, age, ethnicity, and religiosity… The state of the economy is the greatest source of outrage. Despite the record oil windfall, Iranians are experiencing increased inflation and unemployment (both are unofficially over twenty percent). …
Despite concerns about Ahmadinejad and his team’s desires to return to the early days of the revolution, societal reform in Iran is a train that has left the tracks. While it may be slowed down at times, and will certainly face delays and obstacles, it is process that will be very difficult to reverse for sheer demographic reasons: Two-thirds of Iranians are under 33 years old; they increasingly are connected to the outside world via satellite television and the internet; and they have no special affinity for a revolution they did not experience and a revolutionary government which has not been able to meet their economic expectations. …
Despite the tremendous effort made by the country’s ruling elite to appeal to Iranians’ keen sense of nationalism…popular opinion regarding the nuclear issue is more nuanced than what the Iranian government would like the world to believe. …
Implications for U.S. policy:
1. In the current climate, U.S. democracy promotion efforts have been unconstructive and counterproductive. …
2. Objective, professional, Persian-language news sources would be well-received in Iran. …
3. A sudden upheaval or abrupt political change is unlikely to be for the better. …
4. The U.S. should make it clear that it has no intention of undermining Iran’s territorial integrity. …
5. Altering democracy promotion efforts does not mean indifference to human rights abuses. Access the full testimony>>