US Defense Secretary: Should Not Unite Iranian People with Unpopular Government

James Mattis, the US Defense Secretary, referring to the distinction between the people and the government of the Islamic Republic, stated that an approach should not be taken that unites the Iranian people with the country’s unpopular government.

According to Monday reports from American media, James Mattis responded to questions in various fields in an interview with Islander, a student publication in the Seattle area in Washington State.

In response to a question about improving Iran-US relations, he said: “As long as the Iranian people don’t change this religious government and get rid of those who tell people which people can be candidates and which people they should choose, this matter will be very, very difficult.”

The US Defense Secretary then added: “This is a regime that forces its actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon to threaten Israel, or kill Lebanon’s former prime minister and kill Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.”

James Mattis said: “Certainly, the problem is not the Iranian people, but this regime (Iran) that sends its actors to assassinate ambassadors in Washington or Pakistan. This regime (Iran) is the one that provides missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen.”

James Mattis previously on the sixth of Khordad of this year also referred to the issue of Iran’s plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington, which was followed by Iran’s reaction.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on the 9th of Khordad rejected James Mattis’ statements regarding Tehran’s action to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Washington and called it “fabricated.”

The US Defense Secretary also regarding the characteristics of Iran’s government said: “This is a murderous regime, it has killed many Iranians and imprisoned many young people who protested against them during the Green Revolution (Green Movement) a few years ago.”

This refers to the US Defense Secretary’s reference to protests against the results of Iran’s presidential election in 1388 (2009). In these protests in Tehran and cities, dozens were killed and thousands were imprisoned.

James Mattis further clarified: “Don’t unite the Iranian people with this unpopular regime, because if you pressure both, as a result they will stand together. We must ensure that the Iranian people know that we have no difference and conflict with them. I will start from here.”

“Iran is the Greatest Factor of Instability in the Middle East”

The US Defense Secretary in another part of the interview addressed Iran’s role in the region and said: “Bashar Assad is now in power only because of Iran. Russia blocks resolutions in the Security Council, and Bashar Assad has so far killed hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens and displaced millions of people, and the only reason is Iran.”

He added, “In the Middle East from Cairo to Tel Aviv to Riyadh, from Arabs to Jews, everyone considers Iran as the greatest factor of instability in the region.”

James Mattis regarding actors in Syria said: “If it were not for Iran’s military support and Russia’s veto, as well as Russia’s current military support, five years ago the Syrian people would have brought Bashar Assad down from power.”

Protests against Bashar Assad’s government began peacefully in 2011, but ultimately these protests led to a civil war in Syria. Russia entered Syria’s internal war in favor of Bashar Assad’s forces in 2015.

Reports indicate that Iran, in addition to military and financial support, has organized Shiite militias in the region in favor of Bashar Assad’s government.

This is while the Syrian government says it is fighting terrorism.

Source: Radio Farda