AH: America is worried about the Islamic Republic and the new changes in Iran. With the election of Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the new President, and his statements prior to taking office has further worried America. America, with respect to oil in the Middle East, nuclear activities in Iran, with terrorism, and matters regarding civil rights has unsolvable problems with Iran. The other day, while Mr. Ahmadinejad was receiving his confirmation from Iran=s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, I noticed he kissed his hand. Usually, a president of a country or a prime minister or the king is the highest political power. With his behavior he showed that he is a puppet and will do what Khamenei wants him to do. But several days ago he said something that further worried America. He said Amartyrdom is the highest honor. Our revolution is global. Islam will conquer everywhere and the message of revolution is that the Islamic law must rule the world.@

America=s problems with the Islamic Republic are unsolvable, but it does not know what to do. If the Iranian people were united, which they will not without let=s say ______ [8:53] or without a leader or an alternative government to come in the middle and America could work and deal with that entity and talk with it. It does not exist. It will have to find a different solution. If it can, it will provoke. If it can, it will take military action. For a military action, America has been in preparation for some time. In Pakistan, through Iraq, in the past, it was from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; now as you stated, it will move the base to Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan has conflict with Iran. And it will do what it needs to do. And this is a problem for Iran too and to see how far it will go. Within the next 2-3 weeks from now it will be decided whether Islamic Republic will step back and ____ [10:04] and if it puts aside uranium enrichment, perhaps America will step aside temporarily, but if this doesn=t happen, America will do what it needs to do. It=s true that U.S. is wrapped up in Afghanistan and Iraq, but this super power can reach anywhere and if there is a military conflict between Iran and America, but of course, it will not be a military conflict in the form of an invasion. It will be a military attack. This attack would be in the form of ________ [10:41] compared to Iraq during which Saddam Hussein seemed undisturbed. It could be that they disconnect Tehran=s electricity for two or three months. It may even be nuclear in nature. Regardless, the world and Iran is dealing with a regime which is robotic, dark, and backwards, and it doesn=t care for anything. The only thing it knows is killing and it has kept our fellow countrymen as hostages. In Kurdistan, it continues with the bloodshed, it has put the people of Kurdistan under pressure. In Iran, the prisons are filled with the latest figures of about 150,000 prisoners, numerous political prisoners, Iranian nationalists are under torture, Mr. Ganji has been on hunger strike for two months, his strike has become an international sensation, and twice, the President of the United States has spoken on this. And no matter what this regime does, it will not work, because in today=s world, tyranny will not be successful B maybe temporarily.

Let me give an example. In the 14^th Century, the Sultan of Delhi was a bloodthirsty individual, and after lots of problems and revolt of the people of Delhi, he was forced to seek one of his advisors, who was of Iranian stock and an expert in history and politics, by the name of Ziaoddin Barani for advice. He asked, AYou studied history and are a historian, tell me what can be done.@ This Mr. Barani said that there were three solutions. AThe first solution is when there are some manageable problems, and the Sultan can go for games and hunting and let the Grand Vizir handle the problems. The second solution is that the problems are more, and the Sultan can step down and leave the kingdom to his son. The third solution is when death is written all over the regime and there is nothing that can be done. This regime is at its end.@ The Islamic Republic with the election of Ahmadinejad has placed itself in direct conflict with Iranians, has problems with the world, and everything will lead to America being forced to make certain choices that it does not want to, and it would be against our national interest. But countries and their leaders were not created to do good; they were created to further the interest of their own country.

AH: Mr. John Bolton is a firm man. Many people criticize him, but with his thoughts and deeds is decisive. He is strongly against terrorism, he is against nuclear proliferation, and he is not friendly with the Islamic Republic. He is one of those American leaders, who think that Islamic Republic cannot be corrected -- negotiations with it are ineffectual and this regime must change. In this respect, his ideas are 100% of that of the President. It was about five months ago that he introduced him to the Congress, to the Senate, and to the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate. After many talks, they didn=t agree, but America ______ [15:28] was afraid that the liberals and democrats in the Congress would block his election. Therefore, the American Congress adjourned for the summer months and the President, according to his power vested by the Constitution, elected him, and said the problems and changes in the world have placed America in a situation that it must have a U.N. ambassador and this spot should not be empty. These matters include U.N.=s year-round meetings, civil rights, discussions with Korea and United Nations, and Japan joining the United Nations, and most important of all, the problem with Islamic Republic ______ [16:28]. With these situations, this person had to be in place.

AH: Probably not until 2007. After 2007 and the next U.S. Congressional elections. This individual in the mean time will be in his position for two years. Then if they wanted to examine the situation again and his position, he may be accepted or have to step aside, but until that time, he will do his job. Of course, there has been complaints about the way he was elected, but the Constitution gives the American President such powers.

AH: After the election of Mr. Ahmadinejad, yes, it has become closer. But America believes more time should be given to the Europeans to solve the problems through diplomacy, because it wants to get this excuse from the Europeans and the domestic opposition. If Iran doesn=t agree, they may win at the United Nations. If UN cannot do anything because China and Russia may veto it, and even if they don=t veto it, in many ways, Iran is self-sufficient. But America wants to get a global concession and tell the people of America that we went as far as we could, we listened to the Europeans and diplomacy continued, but it failed. And the Americans, in my opinion, if they were in disagreement with respect to Iraq, then they will also have differing opinions regarding Iran, and this would be costly to Iran. The regime has buried its head under the sand, is unaware, and still lives in the 7th Century, and it is not aware of the pressure it is placing on the Iranian people. There is a lot of corruption, there are about 10 million unemployed, the economy and government economics that is dependent on foundations are ruined. Poverty and hunger has skyrocketed, especially discrimination and injustice. Look at the people of Kurdistan. The Kurds formed Iran=s first world empire in 612 B.C.E. They defeated the world=s first super power which was Niniveh and opened the way for the formation of a large Iran, and later the Achaemenians came. They love and care for Iran, but the regime has been unjust and discriminatory towards them. Therefore, what can Mr. Ahmadinejad do? With respect to economy, politics, social matters, foreign policy B this man cannot do a thing. Some even say he will be AKhamenei=s Brutus.@ Whatever he does, Iran has to turn into a secular country, democratic, and free. There is nothing besides this, and the people of Iran during its constitutional revolution rose and until now have had problems, and in my opinion, they will reach their rights. And the people of Iran are ready for any fight. We see today that the problems the regime has caused in Kurdistan is unrest, disorganization, but it cannot subdue the people. This has spread across Iran, and Iran is boiling like a pot. It may even explode. This explosion will be against those who are sitting around the pot. That is, the Mullahs.

AH: To the best of my knowledge, the Islamic Republic is de facto atomic. That is, in secret, it has and will continue its atomic activities, and believes that atomic power is justifiable _______ [21:22] to withstand against America and a regime that is weak and falling will strengthen with atomic capabilities. And later because the Islamic regime believes that nuclear capability will help the global Islamic order and the spread of Islamic ideals that they believe in. Mr. Ahmadinejad=s comments a few days ago is exactly that B Aan Islamic revolution must succeed around the world.@ In my opinion, in this matter, the regime wants to be atomic, and United States is quite aware of this. But a decision for a big country against another country is not very easy. It=s very difficult. It has to become ready in a global sense. It has to prepare its domestic opinion and the international community=s opinion about it. I believe no friendship will occur between United States and this regime, and during the next three years or less which Bush is in power, this situation with Iran will have to be solved. But it is on the people of Iran. I have always said that this is on Iranian people to rise and do this job. And the people cannot rise if there is no leader. The Cubans have tried to overthrow Castro for 40 years. A very strong and powerful leader has not been found amongst them with whom United States can work. All of them have been manipulated by black and white. I know the Libyans, the Iraqis who have gone, including the Ethiopians. None of them were able to produce a powerful and strong leader that United States could deal with. But with respect to Iran, it=s the same situation. It will be the same situation unless Iranians unite, that I do not foresee, until a strong national leader is found. A leader that is secular, democratic, acceptable to the Iranians and a friend -- not a puppet -- of the United States ________ [24:39] powerful and with an organization that can do this job right away or the solution is that Iran is blown up which leads to war that would be devastating to Iran. There is a possibility that it will lead to Iran=s disintegration. But unlike any other time, the situation now is ripe for overthrowing this terrible regime. Iran is ready, the world is ready, but the person that needs to make the moves to be its motor and the machine does not exist. And without him, such a deed is not possible even if 3 million rush to the streets. What=s the goal? The goal is to make an organization, form a government, tell the people what he wants to do, and attract the world=s attention and that of its neighbors. This must happen and if it doesn=t, it will not work.

AH: I am not hopeless. As I=ve said before it has to be a brave man, knowledgeable, in position of political connections, mental strength, a man of action, and most important of all, financial backing. Such a person doesn=t exist or in a form of a coalition to gather and reach a conclusion B Monarchists and Republicans. I don=t believe this will happen. Whenever the camel=s tail reaches the ground, that will happen too. With our culture and heritage in mind, we see that this is not going to happen, unless there is a light. Take a look at the ancient Iranian beliefs B even in the Gathas, the sacred Zoroastrian book, it says whenever lies, torture, a lot of pressure existed, a light shone and the angels came to Iran=s rescue. Whenever Iran reached darkness, it ignited and shone again. Therefore, under no circumstances am I hopeless, but it is not the time to be waiting. We must move, we have to bring this energy to work. In what way? That=s a separate discussion.

AH: Iran has always been saved by a miracle. A miracle is not logical, but it exists. In Iranian history, it has always existed. There has always been a single man that has appeared like a motor causing others to move and save the country. And this has never happened without such men. The Iranian history, the logic of Iranian history has always moved in such a way and will continue to move in such a way. I believe in this too, but as you mentioned, we need to discuss this further to see what can be done.

AH: Thank you. God be with you.