Jamshid Chalangi:
In tonight’s program we discuss the agreement by the leaders of the five states bordering the Caspian Sea on its legal status with our guests Khosrow Forouhar, Navid Jamshidi and Mohammad Sadegh Javadihesar and find out the consequences of this agreement for Iran.
Also, we are approaching the anniversary of the tragedy of the fire at Rex cinema in Iran during the revolutionary turmoil, in which 390 innocent people were perished.
Navid Jamshidi:
The Caspian Seas had long been a point of interest and friction for both Iran and the former Soviet Union.
The Iranian authorities are aware of the sensitivity of this agreement among the Iranian public and political activists but are pretending as if nothing has happened and that Iran’s interests have been secured in the deal.
However, the sporadic news that we are hearing points to the fact that Iran’s historic 50% share of the Caspian Sea’s geographical area and resources has been reduced to only around 13%. This is nothing less than a disaster for Iran’s national interests.
Some would argue that the Soviet Union does not exist any more and the newly established countries that now border the sea should have a share too. But their share should have come from Russian’s share not Iran, as Russia is the country that has been divided, not Iran, which still remains one country. Therefore this agreement has been drawn up by Russia and imposed on Iran.
Jamshid Chalangi:
Why do the Iranian leaders keep lying about the details of this agreement? Mr. Zarif keeps smiling and claims that only the shares of Kazakhstan and Russia have been determined so far and westill have to wait to find out what share Iran will have. Has the clerical regime in Iran lost its basic sense of integrity and faith?
Mohammad Sadegh Javadihesar:
I appreciate this debate for moretransparency on this deal but I would ask to avoid insulting individuals in our discussions. As Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Zarif is due to speak on Iranian national TV tonight and explain this agreement.
In the previous agreement betweenIran and the Soviet Union the 50-50 share of the Caspian Sea only referred to the navigation rights, as then the oil and gas resources of the sea had not been discovered yet.
My understanding is that NATO forces have now advanced and stationed themselves in the city of Kiev, which borders Russia, and this has led to a kind of coalition among the countries of the region. If we ignore the rights of these new states and try to stick to our old claims we would only increase the tension in the region and damage the interests of our own country.
Jamshid Chalangi:
We are very clear about our stance on the Iranian regime. The Iranian people regard this regime as a murderer anddespotic regime and you as a known politician who supports this regime mustknow what is the actual share of our country in this agreement.
Mohammad Sadegh Javadihesar:
You are blaming the Rex cinema fire on the Islamic republic while all documents point to the involvement of thePahlavi regime in that tragedy.
Khosrow Forouhar:
All those who deny the fact that the Islamic republic regime was behind the Rex cinema fire are accomplice in that heinous crime. It should come as no surprise that the man who supports Rouhani and Zarif and the crimes of the Islamic republic should blame the Pahlavi regime for that crime and then support the Caspian Sea agreement.
It is quite clear that Rouhani and Zarif have paid a ransom to the Russians to gain their support for their regime in face of the US and international pressure.
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