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Iranians ridicule regime's 'TV presidential debate'

The Iranian resistance NCRI said: The Iranian regime's electoral candidates were the subject of wide ridicule by Iranians as they appeared on a staged TV debate facing 'child-like' multiple questions.

The first stage of the show turned into expression of bitterness and anger over the questions and format, broadcasted live on state television on Friday.

State-run daily Etemad wrote: "State-run TV has turned the most important political event into an entertainment programme."

Some members of the Iranian regime's parliament described the debate as 'a TV game' or 'Comical Baazar.' Some said the state-run network should apologize for the ridiculous show.

One MP said: "a majority of people are ridiculing the program. For example they say that in the next round of debates the candidates would probably be asked to do some painting."

Another MP said the event reminds him of a comedy show.

The candidates were barred from direct debate and instead, they were asked direct questions by the host about the state of Iran's economy and nuclear program.

But the format of the show itself became the most controversial issue during the broadcast.

Candidate Mohammad Reza Aref said afterwards: "This debate was not respectful to the candidates. We should have been allowed to debate with each other. I only stayed out of respect to the viewers but did not answer any of the questions.

And candidate Mohsen Rezaei added: "State-run TV must recognize the eight candidates as a president. I was patient and tolerant. I was trying to see where this process would end, but repetitive questions in a very limited time were not appropriate.

"If we don’t observe the importance of the president from now on, it means that we don’t want to establish a strong government. We are now deciding whether we should appear in the future debates or not."

Meanwhile Hassan Rohani described the style of debate as 'insulting' and Bagher Qalibaf, Saeed Jalili and Ali Akbar Velayati all said they were asked the wrong questions.

The biggest objections were to the multiple questions they had to answer within three minutes. They were also shown a series of photos - including of a cargo ship, cars backed up in traffic, and clock showing the time of 7:15 - and asked to give their impressions.

Aref told the TV host: "I am not answering these questions. I stopped answering exam questions 40 or 50 years ago."

And former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani added: "You should have asked the candidates in advance over the manner of the debate."

The second debate is planned for June 5 and final one focusing on policy issues on June 7.

Iranian regime reacts to sentencing over Saudi envoy Plot

The Associated Press reported that Iran's foreign ministry has denounced the U.S. for sentencing an Iranian-American man to 25 years in prison over a plot to kill the Saudi envoy to Washington.

The reaction came a day after a New York court sentenced Iranian-born Manssor Arbabsiar, a former used car salesman from Texas, for plotting to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador by bombing a Washington restaurant.

Arbabsiar had pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges and a murder-for-hire count, saying he was directed by Iranian military officials to go to Mexico on multiple occasions in 2011 to arrange the assassination.

The semi-official ISNA news agency on Friday quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi as saying the charges against Arbabsiar were "ridiculous" and more like something out of a movie.

Iranian regime's agent gets 25 years for plot to kill Saudi envoy.

 

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According to HRANA News Agency,  4 Baha’i citizens from Mashhad:  Nika Kholoosi, her sister Nava, Adib Sho’aie and Mahsa Mahdavi were sentenced to imprisonment from 8 to months to 6 years. The named Baha’is whom were trialed in branch 3 of Mashhad revolutionary court by judge Soltani, are accused of promoting Baha’ism, propaganda against Islamic regime and membership in Baha’i groups. In another news in the past few months a number of Baha’i citizens were inspected and interrogated after arrival to Iran from Turkey. These Baha’i citizens who mostly visited their relatives in Turkey, after their arrival were summoned to the security office of the airport with their suitcases. They were interrogated and their suitcase, cellphone and laptop were inspected, then were released.

 

Canada bans all Iranian imports and exports

CBC reported on May 29th that the Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has announced new sanctions against Iran, including a total ban on imports and exports.

"Canada continues to have grave and sincere concerns over Iran's nuclear program and their abhorrent human rights records and their continued support for international terrorism around the world," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Wednesday when he announced the measures in the foyer of the House of Commons.

Baird said that in round after round of international talks, Iran has failed to engage meaningfully while the risk posed by its nuclear activities increases. The Iranian government has offered only "false promises and empty gestures," Baird said.

"Today we are compelled to take further actions against this reckless and irresponsible regime," he said.

Thirty people and 82 new entities have now been added to the list, all believed to be involved directly or indirectly with facilitating, supporting or funding Iran's nuclear proliferation activities, the foreign affairs minister said. "Canada like many of our closest allies is taking every possible effort to halt Iran's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons capabilities," he said on Wednesday. Canada closed the Iranian regime's embassy in Ottawa in Sep. of 2012 and cut diplomatic ties with the mullahs

In another news on May 27 Canadian Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum came to together to launch the Iranian Political Prisoner Global Advocacy Project to herald the beginning of Iran Accountability Week. Accordingly, senators will be in contacts through UN and other international agencies to consult with prisoners, attorneys and family members.