Letter to the Editor
Formerly published on WASHINGTON POST, by Kashi N Pandit.
re: Democratic movement in Iran
Dear Editor:
This refers to the editorial ‘The Tumult in Tehran’ (27 August). Though the regime has unleashed brute force to chase away protesting crowds on the streets of Tehran yet the authority of the government shows clear signs of erosion. More significant is the challenge to the authority of the supreme religious leader not only from the protesting crowds but also overtly from the hardliner president Ahmadinejad. Apparently not only on nuclear proliferation but on other vital foreign policy issues as well uncertainty and confusion have overtaken Tehran regime. If on account of this Washington unilaterally decides to extend the deadline for Iran for responding to de-nuclearization, it will give the regime breathing time to further stifle the voice of political dissent. Washington should avoid everything that is likely to halt the movement for democracy in Iran.