Raisi responds to Western media at open Q&A at UN
Ramin Mazaheri
Press TV, New York
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi wrapped up his first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly with a completely open question and answer session with Western media. A range of subjects were covered.
Raisi said that Iran’s recent admittance to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will be “mutually beneficial for all members”. In reference to the anti-Iran terror group the MKO he rhetorically asked the West, “Why do you keep chanting slogans about fighting against terrorism while housing, giving support and giving safe haven to them?” He demanded that all Palestinians finally be allowed to vote in referendum, and in a transparent manner, to decide their fate.
Regarding the JCPOA pact on Iran’s nuclear energy program Raisi emphasized “The important issue that matters today is sanctions relief.” He continued: “Iran’s need for guarantees is due to the bitter experience of America’s prior non-compliance with the accord. The only side that kept living up to their side of the bargain was the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
While on the election campaign last year one of Raisi’s key themes was the idea that “the world is not just the West”. Press TV asked the president about his plans to further improve Iran’s position in a world moving towards multi-polarity, and away from the hegemonic and often disrespectful West.
Raisi’s first speech at the United Nations seemed to fall on deaf ears in much of the Western media, even though it was full of progressive political ideals such as: the duty to help neighboring countries in hardship, the total refusal to obtain nuclear weapons and the rejection of “capitalism over morality”. Press TV asked the president if he thought the ideals of the Iranian Revolution were just too progressive for an often militaristic and unilaterally-minded West to appreciate.
Many believe that few countries in the world are as unobjectively and negatively portrayed by the Western mainstream media as Iran. Raisi’s press conference was a chance for Western reporters to consider the Iranian view, and many hope their coverage is more balanced in the future.
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