Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad on Iran-Iraq Relations, Iran's Persecution of Gays, and the Future of Israel-Palestine

by via Democracy Now

Fri, Sep 26, 2008 7:17AM

Friday, September 26, 2008 :In part two of our interview, we ask Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad about growing Iranian influence in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein; the persecution of Iran's gay community; and his position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. And we get reaction from Iranian-American activist Kourosh Shemirani of the Queer Iran Alliance.

The US Ambassador Ryan Crocker accused Iran late Thursday of trying to derail an agreement that would allow US troops to stay in Iraq beyond the UN mandate which expires at the end of the year. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has reportedly called for all US troops to withdraw by the end of 2011. Ambassador Crocker also alleged that Iran is deepening its ties to Shiite militias inside Iraq that are affiliated with the radical anti-American cleric Muqatada Al-Sadr.

We turn now to part two of our interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. I asked the President how Iran"s relationship with neighboring Iraq has changed since the US-led invasion five years ago.