"Iraq continues to be occupied, chaos is growing in Afghanistan, the Palestinian problem remains unresolved, the world is swept by political and economic crises, and there is no hope for their resolution," Ahmadinejad said, adding that "the end of the age of empires is near."
As Ahmadinejad spoke to the SCO, widespread protests swept Iran and continued for several days until they were put down harshly by Iranian security forces. The election battle revealed a deep public schism in Iran's clerical elite for the first time since the early days of the Islamic revolution in 1979-80.
The intelligence source said the Iranian peace plan appears to remain on the table despite the political discord in Iran and opposition from Israeli leaders. The source added that, ironically, the supposed Iranian hardliners -- Khamenei and Ahmadinejad -- might be more amenable to a deal than the alleged reformers around former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims he rightfully won the June 12 election.
In 1980, during the crisis over Iran's seizure of 52 American hostages, Khamenei appears to have favored a fairly straightforward resolution with then-President Jimmy Carter, while the faction including Mousavi and his current allies -- ex-President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and former House Speaker Mehdi Karoubi -- was willing to double-deal Carter to secure military supplies through Israel.
The Mousavi -Rafsanjani-Karoubi faction was linked to clandestine contacts with Israel's Likud leaders and with Republicans to arrange arms shipments behind Carter's back via Israel and later under President Ronald Reagan.
The secret contacts in 1980 allegedly delayed release of the U.S. hostages until after Reagan had secured the presidency. Channels of military supplies, primarily via Israel, opened for Iran's war with Iraq, a process that led eventually to the Iran-Contra scandal. [For details, see Consortiumnews.com's "Iran Divided & the "˜October Surprise.'" ]
Now, however, with President Obama having assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S. outreach to Iran must show progress by the end of the year, the question arises again whether Khamenei or Mousavi's faction would make the better negotiating partner.
Khamenei's advantage may be that he is more direct in his approach, whereas Mousavi's faction may have more to gain financially if sanctions against Iran are lifted. Possibly, the worst situation for regional peace would be if continued political dissension prevented Iran from making a deal at all.
Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush, was written with two of his sons, Sam and Nat, and can be ordered at neckdeepbook.com. His two previous books, Secrecy & Privilege: The Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq and Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth' are also available there. Or go to Amazon.com.
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