Lugar: Hands Off Iran, For Now

By: Sean Alfano
Topics: World Affairs

(AP)

The ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sees no reason for the United States to intervene in the Iranian presidential election dispute at this time.

"Our position is to allow the Iranians to work out their situation," Richard Lugar, R-Ind., told The Early Show Tuesday.

Iran's powerful Guardian Council said Tuesday it could order limited vote recounts in the contest between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who reportedly won in a landslide, and opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Asked if this was a sign of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's grip on Iran slipping, Lugar said the Ayatollah was more likely recognizing the frustration of the country's youth.

"Lightening up may be useful," Lugar said of Khamenei.

You can watch the video of Lugar below:

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by vahid470470 June 21, 2009 8:18 AM EDT: we ask US to do more respomsible in taking care of weak and underpressure people of Iran, we showed that we argue most aspects of our goverment idea, we are looking for a good and friendly relation to world. but our hands are tied. what could we do?; Reply to this comment


by armyoftwelve June 16, 2009 11:42 AM EDT: This is a guy who should have been president instead of George W.

He is right, we should stay out of this...for now.; Reply to this comment


by antoniof123 June 16, 2009 11:23 AM EDT: This is really funny you poeple don't get it the power never was in the hand of the Presidnet. My God what is all the fuss about the power is already decided the people while they don't want "I'm a nut job" for President they still want their religious leader as the ruler of the country.

Politicians are just shifting the issues but the reality is who cares not me.; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 June 16, 2009 8:59 AM EDT: endurorob June 16, 2009 5:48 AM PDT

(CBS, the old system was better).
Paper ballots are not a bad thing as such, except when you vote in a bus and everyone can see who you vote for. Try to imagine Diebold machines used in Iran ...; Reply to this comment


by endurorob June 16, 2009 8:48 AM EDT: abbe91 June 16, 2009 5:32 AM PDT

There might have been fraud and when ballots are not really secret, many things can happen.

There might have been fraud? Two hours after the poles closed he was declared the winner by a 66% to 33% margin. The ballots were all paper ballots. With the large rural community a large number of the ballots had to be sent to centers for counting, hand counting. How can this be done in two hours? It can't. There is no might have. But you are correct in sayong the real power resides with Ali Khamenei so this really doesn't matter that much. They will have free elections when they get rid of the council.; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 June 16, 2009 8:32 AM EDT: There might have been fraud and when ballots are not really secret, many things can happen.
Still, Ahmadinejad won because of demographics. Young people in the streets voted for Mousavi ? Maybe. Older people, more conservative, voted for Ahmadinejad. In a few years, maybe ...
On the other hand, one shouldn't forget that the real power is in the hands of Ali Khamenei and the guardians council. Ahmadinejad or Mousavi ? Probably not such a big deal.; Reply to this comment