With at least 21 dead and 450 arrested in the first six days of the protests in Iran, the Trump administration has moved swiftly to support the protests and levelled harsh criticism at the government in Tehran.
Andrew Peek, deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, told The National in an exclusive interview that Washington is seeking a change in the behaviour of the regime in Iran, not the regime.
Mr Peek, formerly a US military intelligence officer who served on president Donald Trump’s transition team, said the US administration rejected the idea of staying silent when it came to preventing violence against protesters.
He described Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's response to the protesters as "tone deaf" and urged Tehran to fix the problem.
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Read more:
Trump administration considering new Iran sanctions in response to protests
European silence on Iran protests despite sanctions call
Iran's Khamenei blames enemies for unrest as death toll rises to 21
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With the number of arrests and incidents of violence climbing in Iran, how does the US administration view the situation?
Andrew Peek: We are watching the situation very closely. From what we see, there are differences from 2009 [ the so-called Green Movement protests], in where this started, and the initial focus on food prices. It is more varied geographically and demographically as well than 2009. But there are also some similarities, in that the protesters are calling for the upholding their basic rights. And similar to 2009, what started with a focus on a specific issue, has transformed into a bigger set of grievances with the regime.
One of our primary focuses is to make sure that the regime does not resort to violence. That is something we are working hard to prevent.
Both Iran’s supreme leader and the foreign minister are pointing fingers at “enemies” and “infiltrators” fomenting instability. What do you say in response?
Mr Peek: That was remarkably tone-deaf on the part of Iran's supreme leader. He cited the Iraqi Baath party, which has not been a threat to Iraq for nearly two decades now. What these protests are about are the rights of the Iranian people, not some foreign fantasy of Mr Khamenei.
This is about his regime’s inability to deliver to its people their basic human rights, prospects of economic opportunity, of political freedom. They can try to explain this away all they want, but it doesn’t change the underlying reality.
Reformist groups in Iran and hardline media outlets have also accused the US of fuelling these protests, in part because of an over-enthusiastic response by the Trump administration. Do you fear that you are playing into those hands?
Mr Peek: We absolutely reject the idea that the best thing to do when people are trying to protest peacefully is to have violence committed upon them. We absolutely reject the idea that the most supportive thing for people protesting is to do nothing when these protesters' rights are being trampled.
That is why we are working to deter violence on behalf of the regime against the peaceful protesters, and to take other measures such as rousing international support to try to prevent a brutal crackdown by the regime.
Because of Iranian history, there will always be an opportunity for somebody to paint a conspiracy and cry out ‘foreign meddling’. And any time an autocratic government cracks down on its people, there will always be a decision about whether you say something and feed into the hardliners’ narrative about foreign interference, or do nothing and allow them to crack down.
One of the lessons we took from the ‘70s and ‘80s and the communist world, is that it is powerful when you speak up on behalf of those people, it makes them less anonymous. It makes the disparate balance of power between the regime and the average Iranian in Mashhad a little less unbalanced.
But if we look at the previous administration, former president Barack Obama was the first to speak up against Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad, and called on him to step down in August 2011 and here we are today. What is different with Iran and how far are you willing to go in supporting protesters? Are we talking pressure on regime, covert support?
Mr Peek: The difference here [with Mr Obama on Syria] is we are calling for the rights of the people to be respected. We are not talking about anything else. What we would like to see above all is the regime change its behaviour in a whole lot of ways but in particular towards the protesters.
So we are not talking about regime change [in Iran]?
Mr Peek: No.
Are you seeking sanctions on Iran, and what is the latest on your consultations with the Europeans?
Mr Peek: We are still working out the modalities on how exactly we can prevent violence against the peaceful protesters.
As I mentioned previously that may include sanctions and it may include other methods. But we are still on the operational level, and working that out. It will be one of our main efforts.
Are you at all concerned that by upping pressure on the Iranian regime, Tehran may retaliate by targeting US interests in the Middle East, be it diplomatic or military presence in places such as Iraq and Syria?
Mr Peek: The safety of the American people, personnel and military is always a concern of ours. But we will continue to focus on encouraging basic human rights, that is one of our national security interests.
But Iran has targeted the US naval presence and US military in Iraq in the past. Are you prepared for such scenarios if they were to happen?
Mr Peek: We certainly hope the regime doesn't fob off its interior difficulties by trying to strike at the external world. Iran's problems here are internal, not external.
What are you hearing from your consultations with Europeans or Arab partners? They have been quieter publicly on this.
Mr Peek: I don't think that is necessarily true. UK foreign secretary Boris Johnson had a readout last night, the German foreign minister and the Italians put out a statement. We all share a common interest, in discouraging the use of violence against protesters.
What would the ideal end goal in Iran look like for the US from these protests?
Mr Peek: We would like to see a change in behaviour from the Iranian regime, in a lot of different areas - not least of which is human rights.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
Biography
Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine
Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Favourite drink: Water
Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work
Favourite music: Classical music
Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3E%0DElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%20%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
More from Armen Sarkissian
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”