The imminent U.S. attack in Iraq has widened the gap between conservatives and reformers in Iran, The Observer reported on Sunday. According to this report, Iranian hardliners believe British and US warplanes should be shot down by Iran if they attack Iraq, but reformers contend Iran should not intervene.
The hardline position was expressed in an interview with The Observer by Hussein Shariatmadari, a close ally and confidant of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said that he believed that the real target of the proposed American-led attack was Iran.
”I believe that they are only after Iran's surrender, and the best way is via Saddam,'” said Shariatmadari. 'Therefore, if American planes are going to go to Iraq it seems to me that they are going towards Iran, so, if they attack you, would you attack them? The answer is "yes". If the missiles were in my hands, I would hit all the American planes.” Shariatmadari has no government post but is a major voice within hardline quarters.
On the other hand, one senior government official, an Iranian reformer, speaking to the British newspaper, described Shariatmadari's views as “crazy.” He said: “We are between two enemies, and we are not so stupid as to shoot down the Americans.” Reformers believe that to do so would play into American hands by giving President Bush a perfect excuse to attack Iran. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
