leader's erratic policies everything to do with iran is presented in the west through the prism of irrationality you get anyone who has ever been to iran but it's in the country where science and education are seen as dick more national identity was really being irrational here in iran for its accusers to discuss this i'm now joined by serving chilled dolton big ben where you can boss it to run thank you very much for your time sir now you served in iran during the years one iran was probably the most call for to the international community on the west in particular on the nuclear issue they even suspended uranium enrichment for a year and a half do you think they guard their fair share of concessions in return. yes i think they did but first to address your question about rationality or irrationality i believe that western countries russia and iran are all basically the same they have an ideology and times they need to serve that ideology they also have interests and most of the time they are seeking to serve those interests as mr dalton i think you would agree especially a sincer

something from your partner you have to be ready to reciprocate and i think iran really feels that it is being asked to give up everything up front with out there whereas really committing to anything substantial well that certainly wasn't the case when i was involved in these negotiations from two thousand and three to two thousand and five the three european countries offered to iran the best deal in international relations that they had ever been offered and iran threw over the table and refused to negotiate but they didn't need jesus taken to do that mr dalton but they did suspend uranium enrichment for a year and a half on their own accord that's quite a substantial concession when it comes to iran but it was fundamentally in their interests to do so because otherwise they would have been taken to the united nations security council and there would probably in due course have been sanctions imposed on them in respect of the failures to live up to the letter and the spirit but those actions were imposed on them anyway whether or not they made those that you are dismissed pacific q

it comes to iran israel and syria is public opinion constructed to fit the interests of special groups and lobbies and is american foreign policy in the country's own interest. to cross-talk american foreign policy i'm joined by my guests in washington judith kipper she is director of middle east programs at the institute of world affairs and we also have flynt leverett he is a professor at penn state and author of the new book i'm going to to round why the u.s. must come to terms with the islamic republic of iran there's just the two of us and myself could cross talk rules in effect that means you can jump in anytime you want and i really encourage it flipped if i can go to you first what drives american foreign policy towards iran very simple question maybe a complicated answer i think that what really drives american foreign policy toward iran is a post cold war determination on the part of the united states to dominate the middle east to to play hegemonic role in the middle east to micromanage political outcomes in key middle eastern states so that those states strategic ori

ability to conduct free elections in iran we basically refer to the narrative established by the into a parliamentary union which in its hundred fifty fourth assembly documents that describe circumstances that have to prevail in any country in order to be able to say that circumstances you know just naturally any can. if we really look around the world can you really find a single country that wouldn't ban a clip from improving its electoral system so we are not talking about the ideal system of course in iran but the question is really what did the current system as imperfect as it is can still afford the people some degree of choice as opposed to no choice at all which in effect you are advocating by asking people to mail their ballots to foreign embassies and international organizations first of all let's not forget that iran is a signatory of the into parliamentary union isn't iran also a signatory to the n.p.t. or for that matter the charter of the united nations but it does violate human rights it does not respect its own signature to the n.p.t. it certainly doesn't recognize a

is around selectional system really saw flawed or is it just another case of iran being held to an impossibly high standard to discuss that i'm now joined by reza pahlavi the son of the last child iran and a problem ocracy activist mr behaving thank you very much for being here on worlds apart correct me if i'm wrong but as far as i understand your position is that the iranian voters should really disregard the choice of the candidates that they're being offered today is that correct indeed the basic premise of the problem from day one was a regime that is making a mockery of what they called elections were none of the circumstances in which. universally recognized standards at the finish of elections does not exist in our country but mr britling why does the choice have to be sore start either free or fair elections or no elections at all not the position that we have as a council that is getting a campaign for the ability to conduct free elections in iran we basically refer to the narrative established by you to buy into a parliamentary union which in its one hundred fifty fourth

have as a council that is putting the campaign for the ability to conduct free elections in iran we basically refer to the narrative established by you took part by the into a parliamentary union which one hundred fifty fourth assembly put out a document that describes circumstances that have to prevail in any country in order to be able to say that the circumstances you just naturally any can. see if we really look around the world can you really find a single country that would in benefit from a. proving its electoral system so we're not talking about the ideal system of course in iran but the question is really what the current system as imperfect as it is can still afford the people some degree of choice as opposed to no choice at all reach in effect you are advocating by asking people to mail their ballots to foreign ambrosius and international organizations first of all let's not forget that iran is a signatory of the into parliamentary union isn't iran also a signatory to d.m. p t or for that matter the charter of the united nations but it does violate human rights it does no

naseef -- abraham sofaer talked to booktv about "taking on iran." he argues that the u.s. should stand up to iran by directly confronting the country's revolutionary guard corp. and the surrogates. which he says have attacked the u.s. and israel with impunity for the past thirty years. this is about thirty minutes. >> host: "taking on iran" is the name of the book. the author is abraham sofaer who is a senior fellow at the hoover institution. doctor sofaer, is our current strategy of sanctions working against iran? >> guest: we are certainly putting pressure on them economically, but it's hurting the people of iran more than it's hurting the iranian revolutionary guard core. they are really our enemy. the answer is no. >> host: in your book, you spend quite a bit of time talk about the irgc, the revolutionary guard corp. who are they? >> they were creating under the new iranian constitution in 1979 with the assignment of defending the islamic character of the iranian revolution. they have an enormous amount of assets and responsibilities. they are very radical. they have -- they

more of a preview of the week ahead from -- from congress. later in the program, a look at iran who have elected a new president and we will find out a little bit more about the new leader there. and what impact you will have on relationships with the west. be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> first ladies have a capacity for -- to personify if they so choose and this is a pattern and american women in politics famous or not. one thing is that they are real people to actually do things. then there is this secondary capacity of being a personifying figure, a charismatic. many first ladies have come to become a first lady and realized that this thing was larger than life. that was something dolly figured as social becomes a figurehead for her husband's administration makes the white house into a symbol and she fostered the attachment to the capital city. all this is happening in 18 08 richard does not know this but in 1814, the british will burn the capital city and all this work she put in to helping the public identified with the white house is going to pay off. it will give this surge of

, obviously this is a front and center story. a whole new view on syria from here in iran. let's go "out front." >>> i'm standing live in the center of tehran, of course, the capital of this country which is in the midst of election heat. people will be heading to the polls for just a few hours. it's been amazing. i have seen more flyers here on the ground and people eager to go in front of the camera and put a picture of their kaercht up. that's pretty fascinating. as you see in our special report, the united states, nuclear program are front and center for this election. let me show you the front of the "tehran times." the enemy, of course, is the united states and the west, as defined by the elite supreme leader of this country. there are people, though, very passionate, but also i want to emphasize there are people disillusioned and feel the election is -- we've had rare access and we want to bring you the special report. this is a 50,000 real note. it's a big part of our story. one, this isn't worth much more than a dollar, maybe about 1.30 off the top of my head. it has dramatically chan

this is a front and center story. a whole new view on syria from here in iran. let's go "outfront." >>> good evening, everybody. i'm erin burnett live in iran tonight. i'm standing live in the center of tehran, of course, the capital of this country which is in the midst of election heat. people will be heading to the polls for just a few hours. tonight we are in the final hours before that election. it's been amazing. we've seen lots of passion here on the streets. the mayor of tehran is one of the candidates. i have seen more flyers here on the ground and people eager to go in front of the camera and that's pretty fascinating. as you see in our special report, the united states, nuclear program are front and center for this election. this election is crucial for the supreme leader. let me show you the front of the "tehran times." the enemy, of course, is the united states and the west, as defined by the elite supreme leader of this country. there are people, though, very passionate, but also i want to emphasize there are people disillusioned and feel the election is rigged again

. there is so much i want to talk to you about. specifically the elections in iran. i want to start with something your father once said to you. . think it is a good linchpin >> success can only be achieved beyond fear. >> you are a mind reader, to. >> i think about it every single day. i know more about this than before. i read the book by one of my .avorite gurus he once wrote about fear. he is explaining what fear can be. fear does not mean anything unless it is the fear of the unknown. how could you be fearful of something you have no idea of? he added to what my father told me. do not be afraid. success can only be achieved when you overcome the fear. tavis: he for you read the powerful text they gave you the framework -- before you read the powerful text that gave you the framework, what fears did you have to overcome? i was having these horrible .heumatic fevers it started when i was 12 years old. i had to deal with it until i was 16. i had to go to hospital. , dying at such a young age, taught me so much. what if i am not here anymore? what if i do not exist? what am i going

sophisticated weapons they promise. iran is preparing to send 4,000 troops. mccain said and we're going to send light weapons? he supported a no-fly zone in the past, but u.s. military officials say syria's air defenses make it more difficult than in libya. russian foreign ministry is determined not to repeat the libyan experience. >> all these maneuvers around the no-fly zone, various humanitarian corridors, it is the first sign of disrespect for international law. >> reporter: he suggested northern ireland's success involving sectarian differences could be a model for syria. >> you're their blueprint to follow. you're the proof of what is possible. hope is contagious. >> reporter: it seemed unlikely putin would respond to such idealism as some republicans say mr. obama is preaching to his own choir. >> seems to me they have a great media strategy. >> reporter: he says his strategy is to show putin that while assad has to go, the rest can stay on and negotiate with the syrian opposition. they think mr. putin may bite if he is more interested in restoring stability than supporting

" tonight, live from tehran, the polls close here in iran. will there be any change when it comes to leadership and iran's nuclear program. that's coming up. >> plus, the revolutionary guard. you may have heard the name the all powerful and mysterious military linked group that control the economy. we went to see one of the banks that they control today, that the u.s. says sponsored terrorism. we have a special story on that. plus, ice cream, what is ice cream? joyful past time here as well as everywhere else around the world for children have to do with sanctions? we'll explain. all that's coming up. let's go "outfront." >>> good evening, everyone. i'm erin burnett, "outfront" tonight, live once again from iran. in the capital of iran in tehran tonight. it's election day, and the polls here closed at 11:00 p.m. local time. right now, it's 3:30 a.m. there was hope there could be some results, an early rumor, pretty soon, but they're going to come in some time in the next day. we should find out whether this goes to a run-off election or not, voting was extended a little later tonight

issue iran will be holding a presidential election soon i know that russia doesn't like to meddle with domestic politics of other countries and that's why my question would be as general as possible because it's more of a philosophical kind to me iran is a great example of how you can create extreme tension and mutual relations by blowing out of proportion some insignificant differences the iranian nuclear issue that everyone's been talking about for the last decade basically relies only on some vague suspicions which year after year have been dismissed even by americans themselves but that rhetoric has ignored the fact that iran has been compliant with the nonproliferation regime by ninety nine or one hundred percent of the mainstream focuses on suspicions but at the core as i see it is the relationship between the us and iran to iran is partially to blame for the time to build up but the root of the problem is the stance of washington their signature foreign policy principle friend and foe divide meaning that if you are not their ally you are their enemy and it seems that the le

iran is a great example of how you can create extreme tension and mutual relations by blowing out of proportion some and significant differences the iranian nuclear issue that everyone's been talking about for the last decade basically relies only on some vague suspicions tehran is partially to blame for the tension build up but the root of the problem is the stance of washington their signature foreign policy principal friend and foe divides russia has a good record of avoiding tension in relations with other countries your public statements indicate that you know the cost of admitting it so where is the line for you between avoiding an all out confrontation that could have an impact on russian security and maintaining our principles position which could to be critical to our security. first i've repeatedly voiced russia's official stance iran has the rights to a peaceful nuclear program and it can't be singled out for discrimination for his second we need to be aware that iran is located in a very challenging region i've told our radio and partners about that that's why iranian thr

even its allies that we have two other parties over the political disapproving. iran getting ready to elect a new president six candidates in the field with the first round of voting friday the main divide between hard line conservative loyalists and reformers artes and worry if an ocean takes a look at what's at stake. how is the way from presidential elections in iran look like it's usually done between the t.v. . if people have a traffic it's barely noticeable but iran is that a special moment in history you will not see many benner as a posters in iran ahead of the country's eleventh presidential vote but that's not because the offer beaten the way people vote in the run is significantly different from what western people used to experience. if people see a campaign poster they will start thinking they spend lots of money on that where does it all come from and they will draw the conclusion that someone a bank or an organization funds the candidate that means when a candidate takes power he will have to give back the money he will owe them and with such strings attached he'll b

one percent of the vote to become iran's new president elect with questions over whether he'll change the country's nuclear ambitions. and syria calls u.s. claims that used chemical weapons fabricated russia which is also unconvinced condemns washington's decision to the rebels as an undermining of peace. it is at midnight in the russian capital. to gas and water cannons have been used by police to disperse crowds of protesters gathered in istanbul's taksim square this comes shortly after the turkish prime minister issued yet another warning to protesters saying security forces will intervene if they don't clear the square by sunday. reports from the turkish capital. at this point we can talk about the texas government being completely cleared of protests and i think it by the way you can see it now we have some ambulance vehicles there and if you will if you can look at the corner in the corner of your skin you probably see people that are just smelling everything in tax him in the gezi park and this is basically what is happening here right now is that police have actually en

prevent anti-government demos continuing. and with polls now close in iran's election we examine the controversial legacy left behind by the nation is all going president ahmadinejad. watching live from moscow with me to mom would say let's take a look at the news. washington will put lethal weapons there in the hands of syria's rebels it's concluded that bashar. has used chemical weapons albeit on a small scale and so will offer more help to those fighting him or his murder to put my has the details this is quite a game changer being announced by the obama administration what we know is that the u.s. has decided that it will provide military support to syrian rebels but u.s. officials would not specify what that support will involve national security council get the prize or ben rhodes says that the new assistance to the syrian rebels will be different from the non-lethal communications type of quitman that the u.s. has given before and this of course leads many to believe that the united states will now be arming the syrian opposition now these decisions are being made after the u.

principles and a principled position i would like however to me why these notions to the euro. iran will be holding a presidential election soon i know that russia doesn't like to meddle with domestic politics of other countries and that's why my question would be as general as possible it's more of a philosophical kind to me iran is a great example of how you can create extreme tension and mutual relations by blowing out of proportion some insignificant differences the iranian nuclear issue that everyone's been talking about for the last decade basically relies only on some vague suspicions which year after year have been dismissed even by americans themselves but that rhetoric has ignored the fact that iran has been compliant with the nonproliferation regime by ninety nine or even hundred percent of the mainstream focuses on suspicions but at the core as i see it is the relationship between the u.s. and iran to iran is partially to blame for the tension build up but the root of the problem is the stance of washington their signature foreign policy principle friend and foe divide meanin

>> george: today on christian world news, iran elects a new president. what does he believe, and what will the impact be on christians? >> wendy: plus, secret believers, christians from several nations the former soviet union came together recently. we were there to witness this once in a lifetime event. >> george: and she truly is the blind leading the blind. but this christian woman is helping muslim children overcome their disabilities and live their lives to the fullest. >> george: historic, the islamic republic of iran has a new president. hello, everyone, i'm george thomas. >> wendy: and i'm wendy griffith. after eight turbulant years of makmud ahmadinejad, iran has a new president. his name is haseed ruwan assa assani. >> reporter: iran noos new leader is western educated, with a long resume in iran's revolution. he presents a softer image. his election led some western elections to brand him a moderate, who can change iran. hebrew university professor moshi says he differs from macmoud in a few ways. >> this nice-looking man, has a fatherly face, and speaks the right lang

all could spin even further out of control pitting assad's regime, as well as iran, russia, all against us. >>> good morning and welcome to a brand-new hour of "america's news headquarters." i'm eric. >> and i'm heather. iran is preparing to send 4,000 troops to support syrian president bashar al assad. this as egypt cuts ties with egypt and jordan is ready to respond to any threats. peter ducie is live, peter. >> reporter: heather, the united states says they will not put boots on the ground. ben rhodes says that is the one option that has been taken off the table but through a program run by the cia the united states will be arounding the ribrebels. the pentagon is putting aircraft and missiles in nearby jordan. a spokesman said secretary hagel has approved a request from the kingdom of jordan for a detachment of f-16s and patriot missiles in jordan. all other u.s. personnel assigned to jordan for eeg garr lion will depart at the conclusion of the exercise. the united states enjoys a long-standing partnership with jordan and is committed to its defense, but some key lawmakers

. a moderate cleric looks likely to succeed mahmoud ahmadinejad as iran counts as votes in a high turnout presidential race. two pm in moscow i matras a good to have you with us here on r t our top story syria's government vehemently denied u.s. claims its army resorted to chemical weapons describing u.s. accusations as quote a caravan of lies washington weighing in a no fly zone over syria and gearing up for arming anti assad militias there after it claimed it had evidence of the use of illegal agents by damascus more from artie's guy named jackie a new washington. the white house says it's the session to arm syrian rebels is based on intelligence that the assad government has used chemical weapons to mask denies the allegations washington cites its own intelligence community as well as french and british intelligence a u.s. official who declined to be identified told the media here that according to a cia report. fired blood urine and hair samples from two syrian rebels one dead and one wounded and according to the cia report those two rebels were exposed to nerve agent sarin br

however the cause is yet another. iran is getting ready to elect a brand new president six candidates are in the running with the first round of voting this friday the main divide is between hard line conservative loyalists and reformist artie's many with an ocean or examines what is at stake. hours away from presidential elections stick around looks like it's usually done busy t.p.c. people have a traffic it's barely noticeable but iran is at a special moment for its history you will not see many vendors a posters in iran ahead of the country's eleventh presidential front but that's not because the off the beaten the way people vote in iran is significantly different from what western people used to experience. if people see a campaign poster do start thinking as they stand lots of money on that where does it all come from and they will draw the conclusion that someone a bank or an organization funds the candidate and that means when a candidate takes power or feel will have to give back the money he will hold them and with such strings attached you'll be never free people will never

the. moderate cleric rowhani takes almost fifty one percent of the vote to become iran's new president elect amid questions over whether he will change the country's nuclear ambitions. and syria calls america's claim that it used chemical weapons it fabricated while russia is also unconvinced it condemns washington's decision to arm rebels as an undermining of peace efforts. and broadcasting live from our studios in moscow this is r t i'm john thomas going to have you with. now turkish police have used to tear gas and water cannons to force crowds of protesters out of the stumbles taksim square during the crackdown twenty nine people were injured demonstrators had assembled in the streets leading to the square and began setting up barricades meanwhile people have started to gather in other turkish cities including ancora this comes shortly after the prime minister issued yet another warning to protesters saying security forces will intervene if they do not clear taksim square by sunday one of the country's main labor unions announced it will launch a general strike on monday in respons

order or a wolf in sheep's clothing. iran's president-elect speaking for the first time since winning friday's election. hassan rowhani said he's willing to talk to the united states but only if the u.s. recognizes iran's right to a nuclear program. pretty similar sentiment to the one i heard from his campaign manager last week in tehran. would he negotiate with the united states? >> if the united states really shows interest, and being reliable like the negotiation, i think he will do it. but it doesn't mean at the first he'll go for that. >> so should the u.s. trust rowhani or not? he is now known as a moderate. a centrist. but those terms are relative. he has been a part of iran's political and military establishment for decades. in fact, he served 16 years as the head of the national security council in iran. and when he was the country's chief nuclear negotiator with the west, he negotiated a halt in enrichment and then later said he had used that time bought for negotiation to go ahead with the program. now he also backed the violent crackdown against the pro-democracy student m

right now. >>> "outfront" next, hassan rohani the newly elected president of iran was a moderate candidate, right? but is he a wolf in sheep's clothing? plus, president obama's approval rating actually below former president bush's. why, and why now? and former nsa contractor edward snowden. some lawmakers want to know, was he working for the chinese government? a spy? let's go "outfront." good evening everyone i'm aaron burnett, "outfront" tonight a new world order or a wolf in sheep's clothing. iran's president-elect speaking for the first time since winning friday's election. hassan rowhani said he's willing to talk to the united states but only if the u.s. recognizes iran's right to a nuclear program. pretty similar sentiment to the one i heard from his campaign manager last week in tehran. would he negotiate with the united states? >> if the united states really shows interest, and being reliable like the negotiation, i think he will do it. but it doesn't mean at the first -- >> so should the u.s. trust rowhani or not? he is now known as a moderate. a centrist. but those ter

principled position i would like however to apply these notions to the in. iran will be holding a presidential election soon i know that russia doesn't like to meddle with domestic politics of other countries and that's why my question would be as general as possible it's more of a philosophical kind to me iran is a great example of how you can create extreme tension and mutual relations by blowing out of proportion some insignificant differences the iranian nuclear issue that everyone's been talking about for the last decade basically relies only on some vague suspicions which year after year have been dismissed even by americans themselves but that rhetoric has ignored the fact that iran has been compliant with the nonproliferation regime by ninety nine or even hundred percent of the mainstream focuses on suspicions but at the core as i see it is the relationship between the u.s. and iran iran is partially to blame for the tension build up but the root of the problem is the stance of washington their signature foreign policy principle friend and foe divide meaning that if you ar

enable the ally to resupply the army so occupied iran became essential. getting rid of the nazis became essential. almost rebut -- >> host: reluctantly so? >> guest: he was not that time anticipating the dissent of the throne. he wasn't anticipating he was going to be virtually occupied country. finally, my son and i try to convey in the book that he really wasn't by inclination of the demand. he was not someone who had the drive that his father had come under basically grabbed the throne and made it his own. he was very weak inside, but also pretended to be very strong. he was the hair that grows like lion. headers that ride the lines make that politicians. reluctant the modernizing leader who came to power at a very crucial time, and a very critical piece of real estate. he ran as truman, fdr, eisenhower, kennedy, nixon, literally all the president has said it was one of the most important countries. those are the days of the cold war. iran had 2500 kilometers in the soviet union or the soviet union was known to try to get into the persian gulf, get his hands on the persian gul

moderate cleric hassen rowhani takes almost fifty one percent of the vote to become iran's new president the question now for the outside world is whether he'll change the country's nuclear ambitions. syria calls u.s. claims that used chemical weapons fabricated russia which is also unconvinced condemns washington's decision to arm rebels as an undermining of peace efforts. and turkish medics are threatened with their licenses for treating injured protesters in a stumbles gezi park as the prime minister says force will be used if demonstrators that don't go home. will come along to r.t. coming to you live from moscow it is nine pm in the russian capital moderate cleric rouhani is iran's new president the reformist backed former secretary of the supremum national security council nucular negotiator one fifty one percent of the vote in an election to avoid a runoff he will inherit a country with an economy by western sanctions aimed at tehran's nuclear program. was following the vote and reports from the capital. people have taken to the streets of tehran to celebrate their victo

. moderate clerics rouhani takes almost fifty one percent of the vote to become iran's new president the question now for the outside world is whether he'll change the country's nuclear ambitions. and syria calls us claim to use chemical weapons fabricated or russia which is also unconvinced condemns washington's decision to arm rebels as an undermining of peace efforts. welcome it's coming to you live from moscow it's eleven pm on saturday night in the russian capital now to our breaking news story tear gas and water cannons of being used by police to disperse crowds of protesters gathered in istanbul's taksim square this comes shortly after the turkish prime minister issued yet another warning to protesters saying security forces will intervene if they don't clear the square by sunday. now joins us live from istanbul arena good evening to you what exactly is happening right now. at this point we can at this point we can talk about this being completely cleared out protesting i think you by the you can see it now we have some ambulance vehicles there and if you will if you can look