'Mr. Sarkozy, Convince Bush to Help the Iranian Opposition'

7 Nov 2007 00:04 Africa/Lagos


Professor Raymond Tanter Op-Ed: 'Mr. Sarkozy, Convince Bush to Help the Iranian Opposition'

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Prof. Raymond Tanter, President of the Iran Policy Committee, had an Op-Ed article published in Le Figaro on 6 November 2007: "Mr. Sarkozy, Convince Bush to Help the Iranian Opposition."


Prof. Tanter commented on the upcoming visit to Washington by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the importance of developing a unified position regarding Iran. Prof. Tanter wrote: "To reinforce western diplomacy and forestall military action, President Sarkozy is in a position to develop a new European-American option -- an Iranian solution to the threat from Tehran."


Prof. Tanter goes on to evaluate the options facing the United States and Europe in dealing with a radical regime intent on acquiring nuclear weapons: "The more Europe stresses a diplomatic option that is failing, the more it would increase the prospect for Washington to select the military option, which Europe correctly wants to avoid. To avoid a nuclear armed Iran or war, both the United States and Europe have a common interest to emphasize the third, or the Iranian solution."


Regarding the role of the Iranian opposition, Prof. Tanter writes, "The EU and the United States can realize their latent leverage over the Iranian regime by recognizing the independent Iranian opposition groups, in particular the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK) and National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The EU and the United States can do so by lifting the terrorist designation of the MEK. And because the NCRI is not on the EU list, Paris should convince Washington to remove that group from its list. President Sarkozy has an opportunity to help President Bush move in that direction. Now is the time to reinforce the unilateral American sanctions against the Iranian regime with a common EU-American approach."


For the full length version of this Op-Ed in French, see:
Le Figaro


Prof. Tanter is available for interview.


Source: Iran Policy Committee

CONTACT: Prof. Raymond Tanter of the Iran Policy Committee,
+1-202-249-1142, rtanter@iranpolicy.org

N.B:
Watch the video newsreport of President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit at the bottom of Nigerian Times.