Interview with Michael Ledeen at the Future of Iran Conference - 2003-05-09

In the days prior, I received reports from the Future of Iran conference regarding three topics: the clerical regime, democracy, and the war on terror. This conference was held in Washington, and Michael Ledeen, a prominent American journalist and author whose comments on Iran are regularly seen in American media, chaired the 'Future of Iran' conference. During a break between sessions, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him. I asked him: You have repeatedly stated that the Iranian government supports international terrorism, but as you know, the Iranian government has repeatedly denied this issue. What do you say about this? - He responds: We know that they support terrorism and Hezbollah, and we also know that they created Hezbollah, which is the most dangerous international terrorist organization. Therefore, the Iranian government's denial is just a lie. We know them and we understand that after the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, many Al-Qaeda leaders went to Iran, and many of them are still in Iran. The lies of the Iranian government fool no one. I ask him: Perhaps the most important principle of democracy is its functioning. Can democracy coexist with a regime that supports terrorism? And how can the U.S. promote democracy in Iran when such a regime exists? - Michael Ledeen says: I believe that the people of Iran want to be free and live in a democratic society. Therefore, the only thing that the United States needs to do is to continue its support for the wishes of the Iranian people. President Bush has also said this—supporting the people of Iran—many times. - I ask: Do you have any other message regarding the formation of this conference for the people of Iran? - Michael Ledeen replies: I think the goal of this conference is to inform the American people. This conference is not a political act but a gathering of various experts on Middle Eastern affairs, terrorism, and Iran. We are trying to draw the attention of the American people to the issue of Iran's future so that they can better understand what is happening in Iran and examine various policies.