VIENNA, June 13, 2009
World Reacts Cautiously To Iran Election
Some Hope Opposition Will Help Temper Ahmadinejad, But Little Change Expected In Hardliner's Stance
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One Saudi columnist said the announced landslide re-election of Ahmadinejad reminded him of George W. Bush's second victory at the polls. "The Iranians feel they are under regional and international threat and therefore they do not want change at this time," he said. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)
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Photo Essay Iran Elections Iranians begin voting on whether to keep Ahmadinejad in power for four more years.
A world wary of Iran's nuclear program reacted cautiously Saturday to hardline leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hotly disputed re-election. Some expressed hope that the Islamic republic's president will soften his defiance and warm to recent U.S. overtures.
For the volatile Middle East and the West alike, the stakes were high.
Iran is a key economic player in the region, a perceived threat to Israel's national security - and a major worry for the U.S. and allies who fear Tehran is trying to build an atomic weapon.
Ahmadinejad's announced landslide victory over his reformist opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi, in a tumultuous election marred by allegations of widespread fraud, "will increase American pressure" to engage Iran diplomatically, said Eyal Zisser, an analyst with the Tel Aviv-based Moshe Dayan Center.
Alluding to opposition allegations that the outcome was rigged, and clashes that erupted across Iran after Ahmadinejad's government declared him the victor, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she hoped the outcome reflects the "genuine will and desire" of Iranian voters.
Clinton spoke at an event in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, who said his country also was "deeply concerned" by reports of irregularities.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the Obama administration will "continue to monitor the entire situation closely, including reports of irregularities."
Hadi Ghaemi, spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, denounced the outcome as "a Tehran Tiananmen" - a reference to China's brutal 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists - and urged the international community not to recognize the result.
As Mousavi supporters clashed with police in Tehran on Saturday to protest the election result, a peaceful demonstration against it was held by about 200 Iranians outside the Iranian Embassy in London.
President Barack Obama has offered dialogue with Iran after a nearly 30-year diplomatic freeze between the two nations. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and geared solely toward generating electricity; U.S. officials contend it's trying to enrich uranium to weapons grade.
Privately, many diplomats at the International Atomic Energy Agency - the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog - said they expected little change regardless of who wound up in charge of Iran's government.
That is because Iran's main policies and any major decisions, such as possible talks with Washington or nuclear policies, rest with the ruling clerics headed by Iran's unelected supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"On the nuclear question, it's very clear that the ultimate decision maker is Ayatollah Khamenei," said Mohsen Milani, an expert on Iran at the University of South Florida. At best, he said, Ahmadinejad plays a subtle and nuanced role.
"The central question of security or war and peace is not in his domain. It's unambiguously in the domain of the supreme leader," Milani said.
And more Ahmadinejad spells less change, said former President Jimmy Carter.
"I don't think it will have any real effect because the same person will be there as has been there," Carter said after meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "I think this election has bought out a lot of opposition to his policies in Iran, and I'm sure he'll listen to those opinions and hopefully moderate his position."
Ahmadinejad's new mandate may allow Israel to briefly deflect U.S. pressure to endorse the creation of a Palestinian state and freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, said Yossi Alpher, a former intelligence official and government adviser.
Ahmadinejad has outraged Israelis and many others worldwide by publicly challenging the Jewish state's right to exist.
"The re-election of Ahmadinejad demonstrates the increasing Iranian threat," said Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister.
Arab League chief Amr Moussa said he hoped Ahmadinajad's second term would boost cooperation to achieve peace and rid the region of weapons of mass destruction. "I believe the situation could move in the direction of quieter talks and understanding. Dialogue is the name of the game," he said.
Iraq's government said it hoped the Iranian leader will seek reconciliation with other countries to promote peace in the region.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraq is ready to help build friendly relations based on mutual interests. Iraq's Shiite-led government faces a delicate balancing act in maintaining close ties to both the U.S. and Iran.
"We hope that the new term of the Iranian president will begin a period of reconciliation with all countries that have no friendly relations with it," al-Dabbagh said Saturday in a clear reference to the U.S.
Dawood al-Shirian, a prominent Saudi columnist, said Ahmadinejad's victory was no surprise.
"This reminds me of (George W.) Bush's second victory at the polls," he said. "The Iranians feel they are under regional and international threat and therefore they do not want change at this time."
"Plus their nuclear program is a source of pride for them and they believe that Ahmadinejad is the one who won't deprive them of it," he added.
Al-Shirian said Ahmadinejad's win "won't necessarily be a bad thing" for Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf. "There are open channels with Ahmadinejad. They know him, and it's better to deal with someone they know," said al-Shirian.
And Obama's conciliatory new approach could soften Ahmadinejad's defiance.
"Ahmadinejad cannot continue on the same belligerent path," he said. "There will be a change in language and approach."
Mousavi, Ahmadinejad's opponent, had advocated closer Iranian ties to the U.S. Perhaps not surprisingly, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - a frequent critic of U.S. foreign policy - rushed to declare his support for the incumbent.
"In President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad we have one of the greatest allies on this earth," Chavez said at an oil summit in the Caribbean.
Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated Ahmadinejad and "expressed his confidence in continuing friendly relations and strengthening cooperation," Syria's official news agency SANA reported.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- On the cbs blog, genuine independence of thought is rare and the code phrase "independent thinker" often means Jihad sympathizer.
- Reply to this comment
- The reaction to Ahmadinejad's re-election that matters most is the wave of protests by Iranians who call him a dictator. They know that he has poisoned Iran's relations with the world, mismanaged its economy and strangled its civil society. This is no time to lessen US pressure on his regime. Pres. Bush had his foot on this serpent's neck, and a complete change in Iranian nuclear policy is the lowest price Ahmadinejad should have to pay for dialogue with the US.
Posted by maistir at 9:47 AM : Jun 14, 2009
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Governments can be bought or forced so their opinions don't count. I doubt you are going to find independent thinkers who share your opinions on Iran. - Reply to this comment
- "One Saudi columnist said the announced landslide re-election of Ahmadinejad reminded him of George W. Bush's second victory at the polls.
The first thing in my thoughts when I read the above comment was "Ohio." Therefore, is it any wonder that Mousavi's followers are rioting in the streets?
Bravo to all the young people! You are our hope!. (Just don't let the old corrupted men kill you off before your time! ) - Reply to this comment
- Free and fair elections are held in open forums, with oversight to assure such.
Iran has no such procedure.
I never expected a "free and fair" election from Iran since the Ayatollah is really the power behind the government.
Whenever you have religious zealots in control of government, it easy for them to justify cheating the people for their own good..... just to maintain power, yet against the will of their society.
Since the people their aren't taking action outside of protest, the election is over.
On the other hand, this "not important" protest should be as loud as possible and take as long as possible to shake the seats of power in Iran, the will of the people shall not be interfered with.
The will of Allah as dictated by extremists in power shall not interfere with the will of the people of Iran. Obviously their people are more sophisticated than the terrorist government in charge would hope for. - Reply to this comment
- DEMAND the truth, Iran.
I wish you luck and peace. - Reply to this comment
- The hard line didn't win in Iran, anymore than the hard line won here in 2000.
The hard line was appointed to the presidency - THAT is the difference.
Posted by hungry1968-15 at 4:20 PM : Jun 13, 2009
You are right there I understand the head cleric is for the now president but his board is for Mouseve it will be interesting how this all plays out but it was definitely a rigged election - Reply to this comment
- The Western media pronounced Mousavi the winner before the polls closed, and before the ballots were counted. Apparently, this journalism has nothing to do with reporting what is happening, and everything to do with creating a fictitious propaganda image. It is only suitable for those of limited intelligence.
Posted by tommygun083 at 3:47 PM : Jun 13, 2009
Are you really a faux nooz reporter? Got it a little twisted the western media as you call it said ," the man Mouseve, has a lot of support and they are coming out in the big city in support of him but the rural areas are for Ahmanjiderad this could end up as a upset in this election." - Reply to this comment
- can you say regime change? bush didnt get the chance to take care of business there too, or it would be problem solved. we must spread democracy elsewhere so things can be right all over the world not just here. hardline my but! !
Posted by libsmacker44 at 11:22 AM : Jun 14, 2009
Spread democracy? By force? Man, you sound so utopian as to make Woodrow Wilson roll over in his grave. - Reply to this comment
- The reaction to Ahmadinejad's re-election that matters most is the wave of protests by Iranians who call him a dictator. They know that he has poisoned Iran's relations with the world, mismanaged its economy and strangled its civil society. This is no time to lessen US pressure on his regime. Pres. Bush had his foot on this serpent's neck, and a complete change in Iranian nuclear policy is the lowest price Ahmadinejad should have to pay for dialogue with the US.
- Reply to this comment
- The hard line didn't win in Iran, anymore than the hard line won here in 2000.
The hard line was appointed to the presidency - THAT is the difference.
Posted by hungry1968-15 at 4:20 PM : Jun 13, 2009
You are talking to a CHILD man... READ what they post and think... No adult talks to other adults like this person... IT'S A KID getting their kicks!
Posted by skyk-2009 at 6:41 AM : Jun 14, 200
He is a kid that we should send to Iran for some re-education. - Reply to this comment
- Just wondering HOW MANY TAX DOLLARS did the CIA pump into this election?
And before you ignorant Bu$h apologists attack me for a simple question, Google "CIA - elections"... - Reply to this comment
- Ahmadinejad is the Geo W. Bush of Iran....a man of God on a mission to protect his country despie the facts.
- Reply to this comment
- It is difficult to comprehend how a UFO like you, became to be the president of the USA.
Oh, do you know how UFO called in Hebrew? OBM. Well, you are probably the most primitive version, Type A. Posted by heibett at 2:16 PM : Jun 13, 2009
You are a poor misguided little Peter Pan and a Don Quixote combination, posting cheap slurs on a President who has an 85 percent approval rating.
Your heroes GW/Cheney, are tasting gutter soup nowadays and you should join them in the sewers. Good riddance of bad rubbish. - Reply to this comment
- The hard line didn't win in Iran, anymore than the hard line won here in 2000.
The hard line was appointed to the presidency - THAT is the difference.
Posted by hungry1968-15 at 4:20 PM : Jun 13, 2009
You are talking to a CHILD man... READ what they post and think... No adult talks to other adults like this person... IT'S A KID getting their kicks! - Reply to this comment
- The Western media pronounced Mousavi the winner before the polls closed, and before the ballots were counted. Apparently, this journalism has nothing to do with reporting what is happening, and everything to do with creating a fictitious propaganda image. It is only suitable for those of limited intelligence.
Posted by tommygun083 at 3:47 PM : Jun 13, 2009
What is it with you ditto heads and your hatred for your fellow countrymen? I never read that and it was never said. What they said CONSISTENTLY was that the man running against the President of Iran had support enough and according to reports COULD win. I sit and shake my head at, not the fact that talking heads tell you this crap, but that YOU believe it. - Reply to this comment
- The RADICAL Religious Leaders of Iran must learn what so many like them have had to learn. You can NOT put the flame of Freedom out with suppression. You can only increase the need for it to burn. Religious Extremist, regardless of brand, have this need to control and that need has ALWAYS lead to violence. Be it Terrorist in Iran or in Kansas, religious extremism has NEVER lead to peace... NEVER.
- Reply to this comment
- I wonder what that Pedophile that does Late night TV thinks about this situation? I'll watch the Letterman show on Monday and find out.
Posted by Martha_123 at 10:07 PM : Jun 13, 2009
Letterman is a pedophile? What did he ever do to a child, that qualifies him to be labeled as a pedophile? - Reply to this comment
- I wonder what that Pedophile that does Late night TV thinks about this situation? I'll watch the Letterman show on Monday and find out.
Posted by Martha_123 at 10:07 PM : Jun 13, 2009
I know you poor people in the fringe Right are desperate but come on! Give it a rest will ya? People are NOT going to go out and vote FOR Falin Palin because some late night comic made a bad joke. Her Policies as are the polices of her Party are TRASH.. they aren't just bad they are complete, total and absolute FAILURES. No bad jokes can EVER change that. - Reply to this comment
- The incumbent Iraianian President stole the election pure and simple. He did not even try to hide that fact and the Ayatola sanctioned the theft. Now it is up to the peole of Iran. Will be be docile citizens and overthrow the current system or will they take back their country.
If History is a teacher, they will do the same thing they did in 1979. They will continue to protest, eventually the army will come over to their side and they will expell the peole running the country or kill them.
We need to simply not recognize this government and just observe. Anything we do otherwise will be seen as interfrence by both sides. - Reply to this comment
- Earth 572 you sound a bit drunk and full of whatever else twisted you could get.Couldn't understand a word of your babbling but you sound like a soldier who's dream didn't come true or a wanna be cop that will end up on you tube for Police brutality someday.Don't figure me out little one,just learn to think for yourself and you'll be fine
Posted by jeffpzzzzzz at 9:22 PM : Jun 13, 2009
Thanks again Jeffie for your take of the world. I see you can think for yourself but the problem is what is how you think. You obviously have been around for a short time and are quite pampered as your posts reveal.
get yourself some books Jeffie - Reply to this comment
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