IRAN: Green movement ‘understands world’s concerns’ over nuclear Iran

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A spokesman for Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi is telling the ‘citizens of the world’ and especially ‘the people and government of America’ that the opposition shares international concerns about the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran.

The statement by Mohsen Makhmalbaf -- an Iranian film director -- goes as far as to say that any agreement signed with President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s ‘coup-empowered illegitimate government’ would not be honored by the opposition, known as the Green Movement. He added: ‘All such agreements will be subject to review in the future.’

Makhmalbaf’s statement coincides with Ahmedinejad’s appearance before the U.N. in New York today, his first since the disputed June elections and the violent aftermath that followed.

‘The Iranian Green Movement does not want a nuclear bomb, but instead desires peace for the world and democracy for Iran. The Green Movement in Iran furthermore understands the world’s concerns and in fact has similar concerns itself,’ the statement said.

In the past, Mousavi has made it clear he supports a peaceful nuclear program for Iran, but has emphasized the need for international ‘confidence building’ and dialogue with the U.S. But by reaching out so overtly to the West, the opposition risks playing into government accusations that the widespread protests were instigated by meddling foreign agents and do not reflect the will of most Iranians. Moreover, the statement’s assertion that agreements with the current government will be ‘subject to review in the future’ appears to be a bold threat to the current government that the opposition will continue its attacks until its demands are met.

-- Meris Lutz in Beirut