Bangkok Post : Ex-spy chief says Iran government about to collapse

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Ex-spy chief says Iran government about to collapse

Published: 3/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

A former high-ranking intelligence official in Iran has called for his country to form better relations with the United States and Israel and says the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on the verge of collapse.

SPEAKING OUT: Mohammad Reza Madhi in Bangkok. PHOTO: SAROT MEKSOPAWANNAKUL

In an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post Sunday, Mohammad Reza Madhi, a former officer in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards' intelligence service, described Mr Ahmadinejad as ''crazy'' and unfit to lead his country.

''He has already destroyed international relationships with many countries and made them enemies of Iran,'' said Mr Madhi, who was forced to flee Iran in 2008 after being jailed for 73 years on what he described as ''trivial'' charges. ''This has cost the Iranian people so much. His ideas are dangerous.''

Iran's opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said on Friday he was ready to sacrifice his life in defence of the people's right to protest peacefully against the government after the worst unrest since the disputed June presidential election.

Full story :

Iranian insider predicts regime change

Mr Madhi, who says he was once the right-hand man of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and passed on information to respected cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who died last month, has been in regular contact with the opposition Green Path of Hope group since he left Iran.

He said while his country should remain the Islamic Republic of Iran, religion and politics must be separated. ''The good clerics should help the people and the government, while the bad ones should be ousted from government,'' he said.

Mr Madhi said a motivation for Iran improving international relations was the poor economic situation in the country and the need for it to be part of a globalised world economy.

''We cannot close our eyes to the United States and Europe. They are strong political and economic powerhouses. If Iran is to prosper, we need to have good relationships _ both political and economic _ with everyone, includ ing Russia.'' On Israel, he said: ''It is the Iranian government which doesn't recognise its right to exist, but the Iranian people might think differently.

''Israel's internal problems are its own affairs, not ours. We shouldn't get involved. It shouldn't concern us. My view is that Israel has the right to exist. We should recognise it.''

Mr Madhi was highly critical of Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, a spiritual adviser to a group of hard-line fundamentalists closely connected to senior leaders in the current Iranian government.

''He is a very crazy man who hates Israel and the United States especially. Unfortunately, President Ahmadinejad is one of his big fans as well.''

The former intelligence officer said that instead of imposing sanctions, western nations should look to supporting opposition groups and not recognise the Ahmadinejad government.

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About the author

: Writer: Maxmilian Wechsler; Position: Freelance writer

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Dang

Discussion 36 : 10/01/2010 at 07:19 AM36
Has this guy told us anything we didn't already know?
Somebody please buy him a razor.
Falgo

Discussion 35 : 06/01/2010 at 05:40 PM35
Wow!
nestor d. fermin

Discussion 34 : 06/01/2010 at 10:26 AM34
The general idea, if my guess is right, is that Madhi was convicted to serve 73 years in prison but he escaped- not imprisoned for 73 years.
anyway, that is not the issue here. The important thing that was brought out is the current political environment Iran is facing. So sad the chaos it doesn't stop unless the people will have a leader who is sensible and improves his country first before minding other's business (Israel & US).
SPICEMAN

Discussion 33 : 06/01/2010 at 09:13 AM33
There are many lessons to be learned from the current situation in Iran.

First, sitting on a one of the wolrd's largest reserves of "Black Gold" doesn't guarantee peace & prosperity.

Second, totalitarinism, whether by military or religious dictatorships, always produces the same miserable result both socially and economically.

Finally, having a bunch of crazed religious leaders running the country can lead to a national suicide, to be on a receiving end of the Israeli 200 plus nukes.
dang boonlert

Discussion 32 : 06/01/2010 at 12:34 AM32
Any one with half a brain flees Iran rather than go to prison. The Ayatollahs fled Iran rather than become a guest of the Shah in his notorious prisons. Thousands of Iranian have fled from the Shah and the clerics. It is great that this man is willing to speak the truth. The people of Iran have the right to self determination.
Listen to the Clash song "Rock the Casbah". The time for the REAL Iranian revolution is here.
Repression didn't work for the Shah and it isn't working for the clerics.
And yes I have been to Iran and it is a great country with great people.
SPICEMAN

Discussion 31 : 05/01/2010 at 10:16 AM31
BUBBA & 8BALL, I've just got a note from BP to keep it on the topic (Iran), so let's do it, OK?
Wayne

Discussion 30 : 05/01/2010 at 07:14 AM30
If you read into the article carefully it basically states that this man was not in prison for 73 years but received a sentence of 73 years by the regime until he fled in 2008. It is also important to note that he was once very close to the current regime but fell out of favor and believes opposition is on the way. If what he says is true then Israel and the U.S. should pay close attention because the wall of freedom is knocking in Iran like a wallbanger by the people who should be representing the country but can't at the moment. My guess is if it is possible for Russia and East Germany to have their moment of freedom then Iran can eventually aswell.
Jack

Discussion 29 : 05/01/2010 at 05:06 AM29
He was convicted to 73 years. It fles to avoid it!!

Man, some people just dont read correct.
Doan Vien

Discussion 28 : 05/01/2010 at 03:37 AM28
It's time Thailand need a political leader like Chavez. The current political system take the country no where, and the British and American government take full advantage and control the country behind the scene. Vietnam ready to stand by and provide support for change. we challenge the US or British government to interfere with a political change in Thailand. Thailand deseve better than been a sex slave for the West.
8BALL

Discussion 27 : 05/01/2010 at 01:58 AM27
To Bubba & Spiceman.
I have observed your argument over slavery and the attacks on our founding forefathers in allowing slavery to exist in our early U.S. days.
Here is something that neither of you mentioned.
The American revolution against Great Britian was a predominately Northern states passion. Not to say some in the South wanted a free nation, it was not as big a deal to them outside of Virgina.
The Founding forefathers from the Northern states were AGAINST slavery and did NOT want it in the new nation, but the Colonial represenatives from the Southern states REFUSED to join the Northern states rebellion from Britian UNLESS THEY WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR SLAVES! They felt that they would be better off under British control with their slavery being legalized than under a new nation without their slaves. So the Northern Colonies had a choice: rebel WITH the southern states & slavery and hang on to their slim chance of winning against a superior British military or try without the southern states and not have a chance at all. They KNEW that unless they had ALL 13 colonies united in their revolt against Britian they had no chance of winning. So they grudgenly allowed slavery to exist and hope that it will be elminated down the road once the nation was more established. Slavery was of course, but only after a bloody war between the states. Had the northern founding fathers had their choice Slavery would have been banned right out of the gate in 1776.

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