Tower Center Diplomat-in-Residence Ambassador Robert Jordan and Darab Ganji, political economist and Tower Center board member, coauthored a piece for the Dallas Morning News emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people.
“More than 70 percent of the Iranian population of 80 million is under 35 and more than 50 percent is under the age of 25,” Jordan and Ganji wrote.
“These young people desperately seek freedom, equality, human rights, economic opportunity, modernity and a better life — all of which they realize the mullah regime is incapable of delivering.”
After an Iranian missile launch and an attack on a Saudi Arabian naval vessel by Houthi rebels, U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn made a statement saying the Trump administration was “officially putting Iran on notice.”
Tower Chair Joshua Rovner was interviewed on FOX4 to respond to Flynn’s comments. He said they could be construed as a threat to scare Iran out of violating the nuclear deal, or it could be bait. If Iran breaks the deal, the Trump administration can back out as well and revisit imposing sanctions.
Rovner also said Flynn’s comments will reaffirm Iranian hardliners that the U.S. was never committed to helping Iran, while also disheartening Iranian moderates who were clinging to the hope of improved relations.
Jordan and Ganji conclude their piece with this thought: “For Iran, the time has come to marginalize the mullah regime and to supply oxygen to those who yearn for freedom.”
Read their full commentary here.