YouSaid · the spoken record

Abbas Amanat

lines on the record: 188
first: 2022-11-02
most recent: 2022-11-02
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Sitting down today, a history that's. As I've said in the start of my book, I say it's the history of a nation which has learned a huge amount from the outside world by force of its geography. It was always located somewhere that people would invade. Or come for trade, or something happened to it that this diffused culture continued to, and they were not afraid of learning or adopting, as they do right now today. This is a very different society.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That's so nice of you to say so. And they very much hope so. There are moments of despair and there are moments that you would think that there is no hope. But then again, something. Triggers, and you see 100,000 people in the streets of Berlin that are hoping for a better future for Iran. And I very much hope it eventually emerges, even I'm hoping at the same time there's not going to be a very strong leadership as it was the case in the past.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“To the way that they try to live their lives, to the way that they are educating themselves or educated in the institutions, you see a desire, an intention to move forward. And I'm optimistic.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Islamic Republic tried to Islamicize the Iranian society in its own image of kind of radical ideological indoctrination. It has failed. It has failed up to what we see today in the Iranian streets And the Iranian population said no to it. And I think if there would have been, and I very much hope there will be, a possibility for a more open environment, more open space where they would be able to speak their views out. Iranians are not on the side of moving in the extreme directions Are in the side of greater accommodation and the greater interest in the outside world. And if you look at every aspect of today's beside the government, every aspect of life in today's Iran, we can see that from the way that people dress.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“If 40 years they have suffered from a regime that have dictated an ideology, that it's regressive and impractical, they want to go back to a life in which they don't really create trouble for their neighbors or for the world. And therefore, I would see a better future for Iran. That's for one reason. Strategically or geopolitically, maybe in Iran's advantage in a peaceful fashion to negotiate, as it's the fate of all the nations rather than commit itself or sworn to a particular course of policy. So there's a give and take as the nature of politics is art of possible, as it's been said. So probably Iran is going to be hopefully moving in that direction. I think there is a generational thing. That's the third reason No matter how much”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I'm not cyn Try to be realistic, and I actually may be critical, but I have great hopes. In Iran's future for a variety of reasons. I actually did write an article only in the last version of it is going to go out today. In which the title of it is The Time of Fear and Women of Hope. Which, in a sense, is this whole coverage, but what this movement means that we see today. Being made fizzle. In a few weeks' time, or it may just go on and create a new dynamics in Iranian society that would hopefully result in a peaceful process of greater accommodation and a greater tolerance. Within the Iranian society and with the outside world. And I think majority of the Iranian people don't want tension. One confrontation. Don't want crisis.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“You have to be mindful of Russia. And you have to keep it as an arm's length. And that's what was Iran's policy throughout the course of the 20th century, 19th and 20th century, up to what we see now around us, which is a very strange situation. Whether the balance has changed in terms of if Russia is purchasing weapons from From Iran, which was unheard of. Means that there is a new balance emerging, a new relationship is emerging. Perhaps remains to be seen. But You look at the historical precedence, it would have been enormously unwise to be an ally of Russia, given its long history of aggression in Iran. Russians Part of the reason why it's actually Iran allied itself with British Empire was the fact that it was so much afraid of the Russian expansion And as such, I don't know what's going to be the future of this relationship.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Foolish isolations that you have created for us because of all the sanctions that you have created for us, the Islamic Republic. So, in a sense, it's a very difficult question to answer. Probably Iranians also like to be more on the other camp. But what happens is that in real term, what surprises me most is not this alliance with China, but it's kind of becoming a lacky or subservient to Putin's regime in Russia. Since, if you look at it, Ever since at least the 19th century, not going further back the beginning of the 19th century always viewed Russia as the greatest threat strategically because it was sitting right at the top of Iran. It was infinitely more powerful than Iran, has ever been. And I run for two rounds of war at the beginning of the century, lost the entire Caucasus to Russia and led its lesson.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“This kind of a world which was perhaps even 10 years ago unimaginable, that you see now a great power, China, that it's going to remain from what we see around us as a great power. And Russia adventurous, foolish, but nevertheless would remain criminal, I would say, as far as its behavior in Ukraine, but actually it's a rogue nation that attracts another Rogue nation. So Iran finds itself now in a greater place of security in alliance with Russia in the hope that this would give Iran a greater security in this part of the world. Whether this is realistic or an illusion, Think remains to be seen. I think Iran, China relation makes more sense. Although, if you ask ordinary Iranians, they don't like it, they would tell, why should we be tied up with China as the only trade party?”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And I think that is part of the reason, not the entire reason. Part of the reason why we see the emergence of a new Geopolitical Environment in this part of the world of which China Russia Possibly Iran, possibly Turkey, possibly both of them are going to be part. Perhaps Saudis also, but I doubt that the Saudis under the present circumstances, although we have witnessed some remarkable issue in the course of the past few weeks, were the Saudis giving assurances to American administration and then shifting and getting along with Putin in terms of the oil production, I think is more than that event. And it's not only them, but also the Emirates are doing the same thing. So what does that this tell us?”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Cannot see the difference between geopolitics and these deep connections. I see this one and the same. Why? Because I think the experience of 40 years of Distancing from the west in terms of the Islamic Republic. And the fact that there is a Shelf life to imperial presence. Any empire anywhere in the world. So after the terrible experience of the United States in And in Afghanistan. pretty much like the British Empire that after the Suez experience in 1956 decided to withdraw from east of Suez. Maybe there is a moment here that we are witnessing or it may come. A great power like the United States sees in its benefit not to get too much involved into nitty gritty things in other parts of the world, that it's not its immediate concern.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Regimes are always victims of their own rhetoric. So once you keep repeating something, then you become more and more committed to it. And it cannot remain anymore in the level of a rhetoric. You have to do something about it. So it's something compelling pressure to try to materialize what you've been saying in your rhetoric. And that is even extremely more dangerous. as far as Iran is concerned. And it brings it to some unholy alliances. Today we are witnessing Iran is getting involved even more dangerous than this rhetoric in terms of the vis-a-vis Israel is its involvement with Russia and to some extent with China. we can talk about”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That it did not have or did not deserve to have within the politics of the region. In other words, that has become part of the tool, kind of an instrument for, if you like, to call it some kind of an expansionism of the regime. In parts of the world where it can see there is a possibility for its presence for its expansion. Of course, historically speaking, Iran ever since 15th century, I think that's the earliest example I can see. In early modern times, has always a tendency of moving in the direction of not only what is today the state of Iraq, but further into the eastern coast of Mediterranean. So that's a long-term ambition that has been in the cards as far as Iran as a strategic unity is concerned. by no means justified and by no means could be a reasonable state as today's Iran but the second point is that also”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Particularly because the Iranian population is not behind this regime, certainly in the case of the Palestinians. Or for that matter, it's not Palestine. The Islamic republics' involvement in Lebanon with Hezbollah, its Islamic republic's involvement in Syria with Bashar al-Assad, its involvement in other parts of the world, perhaps even Yemen That all of them creates extraterritorial responsibilities or interventions, unnecessary interventions. That ultimately is not in favor of best interests of the Iranian people or Iran as a country. Iran has never been involved in this kind of politics before of the Islamic Republic. So in a sense, the Iranian regime, it seems to me, by going to the extreme, try to create for itself. Space.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Of course, I tend to agree with you fully. And unfortunately, this is a very critical situation that this region is facing Iran in particular. I would say that I hope that in the minds of the people of Israel, There is enough or common sense to realize that Probably escalation on the Israeli side is not in the favor of anybody. and try to let the Iranians to go on with their empty rhetoric as they do so far. But at the same time, I cannot deny the fact that Know there is a danger on the side of this regime and what it says. It cannot be denied. Nobody can justify that.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“You have to come to terms with it, and you cannot just postpone as they did since 67 they are postponing and hoping that it goes away somehow I don't think it's going to go away And it's going to get worse rather than better.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I tend to agree with you, and I have all the respect for the fact that Israel would like to create security and happiness for its own people There are two arguments one is a moral argument. To my mind as a historian Jews across around the world for all through their history suffered. This is a history of suffering, it's a history of memory of suffering, and I find it enormously difficult to believe that a nation that's the product of so much Sacrifice suffering, loss of life. And a variety of Holocaust above all. Would find itself in a position not to give the proper justice to a people who could be their neighbors. And that is a moral argument which I cannot believe under any circumstances can be accepted. Second, in real terms, What do you want to do? You want to commit a genocide? Do you have a population there?”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And stupidity on the side of the Palestinian leadership in various stages, not to try to make a deal or try to come to terms in some fashion. But it's a very complex picture and it's rather unfair to the Palestinians to accuse them for not coming to terms with Israel under a very uneven circumstances when they are not in a position to try to make a fair deal in terms of the territories or in terms of their security in future vis- ⁇-vis Israel.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It seems to me creates a certain anxiety in the minds of the Israelis, Israeli population, and Israeli government, particularly those who are now in power, Netanyahu, the Likud, and more kind of a right-wing politics of today's Israel. That being said, I think also the Israelis try to get an extra mileage out of. Threat of Iran quote unquote in order to present themselves rightful for terms of security and whatever else the way that they are treating the Palestinians, which I think is extremely unjust. I think it's extremely unwise for Israel to carry on with these policies as they did since 1967 at least. and not to try to come to terms with it. Of course, there are huge amounts of, I'm not denying that at all. There's a huge amount of failures, mistakes.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“80% of the Iranian people would approve of the policies of the Islamic Republic vis- ⁇-vis the issue of Palestine. Nor the Palestinians themselves because the Islamic Republic is only supporting those factions within the Palestinian movement And even within that, there are problems with Hamas, for instance. But nevertheless, it's for the Islamic Republic some kind of a propaganda tool to be able to use it for its own sake and claim that we are the champions of the Palestinian people. Whether they have a solution, if you look at their rhetoric, if you listen to their rhetoric, it's the destruction of the state of Israel. And that”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And therefore it is upon the Iranian regime, Iranian Islamic Republic to support the cause of the Palestinians. This came about at the time The rest of the support for the Palestinians, including Arab nationalism, basically Reach the stage of bankruptcy Much of the regimes of the Arab world either are now coming to terms with Israel or in one way or another because of their own contingencies, because of their own concerns and interests are willy-nilly accepting Israel in the region. Now, that old task of rhetorically supporting the Palestinians falls upon the Islamic Republic. That sees itself as a champion of the Palestinians now. Without, as a matter of fact, having either the support of the Iranian people behind him, if you ask if tomorrow there would be a poll or a referendum, I would doubt that”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“At least What I can tell you is this. Iran prior to 1979. Viewed itself under the Shah as a kind of Not supportive of Israel was in very good terms with Israel. They had an embassy in Iran, an official embassy in Iran. They had certain projects that helping with the agriculture and so forth in Iran. Since 1979, That completely reversed. Part of it is that the issue of the Palestinian plight remained very much at the heart of the revolutionary Iranians who would see that Part of the United States is to support part of the United States guilt sin is to support Israel. Visa, it's very suppressive Oppressive Treatment of the Palestinians, completely illegal taking over of the territories, which is not theirs since 1967.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Means that the Iranian government is going to become even more powerful, more financially secure in order to suppress its own people. So that's the agreement that goes against coming to terms with Iran. But the problem is that there is no clear alternative, even I'm not particularly personally favorable for this agreement to be ratified. But the alternative is very difficult. There's no way to try to see what can be done.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The United States withdrew from the agreement. Iran felt comfortable to try to go and do whatever they want without any kind of monitor being monitored by the international community. And that's the situation now. We don't know whether Iran is really sincere under the present regime. Negotiate a deal. We don't know that the United States is willing to do so. And it seems that now what is happening in terms of the protest in the Iranian streets makes it even harder in public eye to try to negotiate a deal with Iran because that means in the minds of many And with some justification, If the nuclear agreement would result in the removal of many of these sanctions, millions, billions... As a result of the removal of the sanctions and Iran's ability to sell it, its oil in the international market without any restrictions.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Ever since the beginning of the revolution in 1979, and of course, more intensively since 2015-2016, even prior to that, probably a little bit earlier. This agreement, the nuclear agreement, was supposed to control or monitor Iranian nuclear industry or nuclear setup. In exchange for removing the sanctions. What this never worked, in a matter of fact, in a very successful, satisfactory way for the Iranians or for the Americans, particularly under Trump administration, which I think foolishly... Decided to scrap the agreement that was reached under President Obama. Like many other policies that was implemented under Trump administration, this created a major problem. That is how to under Biden, how to try to come up with a new nuclear agreement with Iran. In this process, since 2016,”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So there was a determined attempt, as you might know, on the side of the Western communities or now gradually border communities to try to, as much as possible, to control Iran from getting access to a nuclear capability or actually limit Iran's nuclear capabilities to what was defined usually in a euphemism as a peaceful fashion. That being said, there was also Israel. Which viewed the Islamic Republic as an arch enemy And some of it might be due to the Israelis' own exaggeration of Iran's threat. And some of it is because Iran has developed a fairly strong military, as we see it today. And as such, this attempt to try to prevent Iran from ever getting access to a nuclear weapon, which resulted, as you might know, in this massive sanctions that”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The support of the United States was behind Iraq vis- ⁇-vis Iran. And Iran felt that it's been isolated and has to protect itself. So there is some argument for having a nuclear capabilities. But in reality, this has resulted in the completely mindless, crazy Wasteful attempt on the side of the Iranian regime to try to develop a nuclear power. And therefore, the rest of the world, particularly in this region, were very worried that if Iran would get access to a nuclear weapon, then the entire region of the Persian Gulf might, particularly Saudi Arabia, possibly Turkey, possibly Egypt, all of them may require, may demand to have also nuclear weapon, given the fact that Pakistan and India has already have it.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Can argue that for a long time, even under the Shah, but much more expressly and decisively under the Islamic Republic, there was a determination to have a nuclear power or nuclear weap I think the bottom line of all the negotiations, everything else is that Iran of the Islamic Republic had the tendency of having its own nuclear weapon. The reason for that is that Iran was subject of nearly nine years, eight and a half years of Iran-Iraq war when not only Iran faced an aggressor Iraq that actually attacked Iran at a very critical time at the very beginning of the Iranian revolution. But the fact that Iran felt kind of a helpless in the course of this war and has to make great sacrifices, actually, which supported the Islamic regime and consolidated Islamic regime because of this war. And most of the time,”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, he is kind of out of favor now because he was more moderate and this most recent regime. But the point is that You look, this is something almost institutional to the regime. This is a regime that rejects all of the executive powers. Because the division between the supreme authority as the place of a supreme authority versus the presidency has problematic. It is as if there would be a supreme leader in the United States above all the three sources of power. That's the kind of a view that we can see in today's Iran. And of course, he is at the focus of all the criticism that he receives from the demonstrators in today's Iran.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, it's a funny election. Because the process of actually Candidacy for presidency is completely controlled by a council that is under the control of the supreme leader. So they have to Approve who is going to be the candidate. Everybody can enter and say, I would like to be a candidate.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“He does all kinds of things, he makes all kinds of statements, but he is somewhat above the everyday politics in theory. But of course he's pulling all these strings without doubt. And it seems that you were asking, I thought you were going to ask me this question almost without an exception. Since the inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979 up to the last of the presidents of the Islamic Republic, Rouhani, before the guy that is last year or a year and a half ago, was in a phony election, got into the position of the president. All of them is a long list. All of them eventually fell out with the regime So, there is no president except perhaps to some extent Rouhani, but we'll wait and see what's going to happen to him. But prior to him, all of them, including Ahmadinejad, fell out with the regime, with the current regime in Iraq.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, because the supreme leader tries to keep himself out of issues of everyday politics, supposedly But therefore, he is not coming to the United Nations to give a speech during the session. But Mr. Ahmadinejot at the time was the president would come and make outrageous statements. That's why you probably know something about it.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The president, in a sense, is the executive power. Under the Islamic Republic, there are three heads of powers. There is the president that presumably has the executive power. There is the head of the judiciary and there is the head of the Speaker of the Parliament, Majlis, Islamic Majlis, which is the legislative. So there's a legislative judiciary and executive. Raisi is not a president. is the head of the executive. Above them is the Supreme Leader or the Guardian jurist.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, there is a council of the experts, so to say Remove him from power, I think, theoretically. But there is so much restrictions to that that I don't think it would have ever happened in reality in his case at least.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That's part of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic. The first constitution, the first draft of the Constitution did not have the authority of the Guardian jurists. But then it was added by Khomeini and his supporters.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, well, they hesitated to use the term imam for him. In any other respect he was given all of that adulation. That they did to Khomeini. He is the guardian jurist. That's what's important. Because the guardian jurists in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic is an authority that is above the state. He is not elected quote unquote because this is a divine authority, although he has been designated by the group of deterrent mullahs like himself. He has the full power over all institutions of the state. the army, the media, the economy, every aspect of it, they act like a show. He acts like this authoritarian authority.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Much so destroying minorities, Baha'i is one of them. Hundreds of pais were without any reason, without any involvement were picked up and executed, the properties were taken over, the rights were taken away from them, even up to this day. There's the largest, by the way, religious minority in Iran. So you would see that in many areas, this is a acts very much as an beyond authoritarian. It's a kind of really fascistic regime.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So this remains very much a kind of original sin of the Islamic Republic that cannot get rid of. And it's in people's memories. They didn't allow them even the families to go and mourn their dead in an official cemetery which they created for them. Now the latest thing is that they put a huge concrete wall around it so nobody would be able to get into it. So these all part of this extraordinary level of Level of atrocity, brutality that you see that the regime who claimed that it comes with the morality of religion and Islam to bring back the justice and be more In a sense, kind to people ended up with what it is in the memory of many of the people in Iran.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“majority of them, the Marxist left and the religious left. In a matter of a few weeks or perhaps a few months, I'm not actually quite sure about the time span, in a series of, these were people who have already been tried and they were given sentences, they were brought back. Before the summary trials of three judges were more three, four of them, one of them is now New president of the Islamic Republic, Reisi. they were given a quick summary sentences which meant execution. So something between probably six to eight thousand were executed in a matter of a month or two months, something like that. Mostly in Tehran, but also in provinces. And that remained an extraordinary trauma for the families, for those who had these kids. They're all young. All young.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“But also the fact that it's in fact fulfillment in a kind of completely unintended fashion is the fulfillment of that idea of a Messiah that they've been fighting for. This imam which is in a hideous for a thousand years is here and not here. And therefore Khomeini would have in a sense fulfilled those anticipations. But beyond that, I just give you one example. I know that you may have other concerns. But when I say elimination, at the end of the Iran-Iraq war by the direct order of Ayatollah Khomeini, a fat war that he wrote, a group of prisoners Belong to a variety of Political parties, the left, religious left.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And their opposition even within the religious establishment, because it wasn't a uniform, there were many different tendencies, those that were opposed to the authority of Ayatollah Khomeini, or now Imam Khomeini, meaning almost a sacred religious figure above the level of a religious authority. He is a saint kind of a figure. Shism has this idea of imams. There were 11 of them. The 12th is hidden and would come back at the end of the time. This is a messianic figure. So the title that was always used for them only in Shiz, never used for any other person. He is the first person in the revolution of 1979 first referred to as deputy of imam, but the term deputy gradually disappeared and he became imam Khomeini. That's his official title.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“There I can see there is a parallel, but also you can see with any other authoritarian regime with a messianic fear at the head of it, that it destroys all the other forces. So during the course of the first 10 years of the Islamic Revolution, it destroyed the liberal nationalist, secular. It destroyed the guerrilla movements, some of them Islamic, some of them Marxist who turned into political parties or tendencies in the course of the post-revolution 1979. They were completely destroyed. And in a very brutal fashion.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Certainly did. Probably not, certainly not as brutal in terms of the victims as you would see in Soviet Union under Stalin, who the bloodshed or the Destruction of the population was far greater than what you would find in. Iran of the Islamic Republic is uncomparable. Perhaps I would find a greater parallel with Mao Zedung. And particularly because China has a very strong messianic tradition. Since the ancient times. So they have something, and Mao appeared as a kind of a messianic figure.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Is parallel or perhaps influenced by Zoroastrianism in which there is an idea of this world and the other world, there is a hereafter. There is an idea of a judgment at the end of the time. And there is a concept that there is a moment of justice that is going to come with the rise of a religious or a charismatic fear. So it's a very old phenomenon in Iran, very old. And it's time and again repeated itself in the course of its history, but never as powerfully as it happened in 1979, and never in the form of authority from within the religious establishment. It was always the dissent movements that were Kind of antinomian. They were against the authority of the religious establishment. That changed in the 20th century.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“who would bring you out of the misery that you are in. Always looking for a third party to solve your issues. That's why probably this movement has a particular significance because it probably doesn't look for a messiah. Although I was talking to my brother, who is a historian also, and he was saying perhaps the Messiah of this movement is that Messa Ame. 22 year old girl that was killed Messiah. Is now leading a movement which no longer has that charismatic leadership with it. But yes, I would say that Iran has been the birthplace, if I might say that, of messianic aspirations going back to ancient Zoroastrianism, which is really the whole system that you see in major religions, at least so-called Western religions, Abrahamic religions.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“This eventual encounter between religion and state. That's something to do with the nature of Shiza. That's just one point that should be pointed out. Most of Sunni Islam don't have that kind of, I say most because there is something there. But Sunni Islam in general does not have that kind of an aspiration for the coming of a messianic. Leader. She's I mean, it's very shaping, particularly the way that it was set up in Iran. Was a religion that has always this element of expectation to it for the coming of this messianic leader. Of course, I mean, between parents, all societies look for messianic leaders. I mean, just look around us.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“At the time it was thought that it's true religion. Ever since then its disillusionment with that image. Or at least a process of disillusionment, the outcome of it is what we see today. Basically, that process of 40 years is a process of readjusting to the realities of the world. That great moment of romantic success of a revolution, like most revolutions, of course, that is going to change Iran and bring this kind of a moment of greatness led into this great disappointment. So it's a movement of the great disappointment in a sense. Like most messianic movements, by the way, messianic movements in general are always leading into great disappointments. But what I have here that perhaps should be added to it, that yes, it was a peculiarity of Iran as a society that had to experience”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I think has something to do with the very complex nature of how Iran evolved over a long period of time, since the 16th century. That's why I would for a moment talk about what I have written. I have written a book. That's called Iran and Modern History, and it does not start in the 20th century. It starts in the 16th century. Because that's what I have argued that this complex process, that at the end of the day resulted in what we see around us today is something that was in making for a very long time.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Isolated or marginalized the secular middle class who could not survive under that regime and gradually moved out in the course of perhaps 30, 40 years up to now. Iran has the largest, I think I'm right to say so, has the largest brain drain in any country in the world To its population.”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“That situation changed for the first time, the religious establishment took over the power of the state. And that's at the core of what we see today as a major issue for Iranian society. Because these are basically that old balance between the religion and the state, which was kind of a de facto separation of the authorities of the two has been violated and now you have in power a theocracy in effect, which of course only in its appearances theocracy, deep down, it's, in my opinion, is a brutal fascist regime. But it has the appearance of religion into it. So this is really the story of the revolution. And as a result of that, the Iranian middle classes greatly suffered. It's not without a reason that you see 4 million Iranians abroad. Because basically the emergence of this new power gradually”
2022-11-02 · Lex Fridman Podcast · #334 – Abbas Amanat: Iran Protests, Mahsa Amini, History, CIA & Nuclear Weapons · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source