Tehran, YJC. Ahmadinejad consultant says the Occupy Wall Street movement was set in motion by the former Iranian president.
Speaking in interview with Sharq, Aliakbar Javanfekr, former consultant
to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran, compared Iran’s approach to
the US during the Ahmadinejad term and after, saying "I believe that what was
to happen in America and the Wall Street public demonstrations were the result
of enlightenment brought about by Mr. Ahmadinejad, so much so that the issue
turned into a crisis for the American government.”
He said "The enlightening letter of Mr. Ahmadinejad has nothing in
common with negotiations and he sent Obama the letter with no intention of
negotiation; whereas there is no such thing about recent Iran-US contacts,
because it was criticized by the Supreme Leader.”
"The Islamic Republic has never rejected talks with the US, but has laid
conditions. Ahmadinejad has always stressed negotiations based on mutual
respect. The Islamic Republic had better chances of negotiation which were
wasted,” Javanfekr asserted.
"Chances when we were in more powerful positions. Like when Mr. Ahmadinejad
would visit New York and make the most of the US media capacities, challenging
the US government before the public,” he added.
Further explaining why Ahmadinejad did not tap the favorable occasions
for negotiations, he said "The decision to talk had to be made at higher
levels. But the mere possession of a higher position is not all. The other side
has to come to the point that talks must be held from equal positions and with
mutual respect, not like what Rouhani did, going for talks so that Obama up and
says Iran goes for negotiations frustrated by sanctions.”
He also pointed to the Obama-Rouhani phone call and said "That must not
have been done without some precursors. Some hints were given before he called.
If Obama were not sure that someone was waiting for his call on the other end
he would not have called. He knew that Rouhani would answer if he called.”