Tehran’s harder line

Ever since July when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected as president, Iran has been heading into a new era of radicalism and isolation that is troubling Tehran moderates and frightening neighbouring countries and the West.

In barely three months, Ahmadinejad has reversed a decade of efforts by Iran moderates to open doors to the West, improve trade relations with Europe and tone down inflamed anti- Israel rhetoric. With his actions and words, the hardline Ahmadinejad has shown he has every intention of yanking Iran back into a style of government that is sadly reminiscent of the dark days of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which was highlighted by the seizure of the American embassy and with it dozens of foreign hostages.

In recent weeks, he has vowed to proceed with Iran’s nuclear program, despite the threat of United Nations sanctions; called for Israel to be “ wiped off the map;” replaced every reformist provincial governor with a hardliner and unleashed the feared “morality police” to crack down on what they see as immodest fashion and behaviour by women. And last week, Ahmadinejad, a former mayor of Tehran, took another step to consolidating his radical leadership by announcing all reformers in the diplomatic corps who favour better relations with the West will be fired. That means 40 Iranian ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions have, in effect, been fired.

Also last week, police in the northeastern city of Bojnourd launched a new morality drive, confiscating what they deemed to be alluring mannequins from boutiques and clothing stalls.

At the same time, the new culture minister has ordered all female employees not to work after sunset, saying they should be home to care for their families.

If there is any glimmer of hope for Iran, it might have come yesterday when an Iranian official said Iran has granted U. N. nuclear inspectors access to a high- security nuclear site near Tehran that American officials contend may be a research lab for part of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The move came days after U. N. Secretary General Kofi Annan cancelled a trip to Tehran over Ahmadinejad’s comments on Israel.

Overall, though, the moves from Iran are extremely worrisome.

That’s why it is important Ottawa keep pressing Tehran to engage in meaningful dialogue with the West. Ottawa should also join with the United Nations and its nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to censure Iran if it fails to co- operate with inspectors.

For Ahmadinejad must be sent a clear message that the rest of the world will not stand by silently as he leads Iran back to its dark days.