Tehran, April 11: Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani says the authoritarian regimes in the Arab world are committing “political suicide” by suppressing their nations.
“Repressive methods will not be effectual in the long run and the countries which kill their people are committing a political suicide,” ISNA quoted Rafsanjani as saying during a meeting with a number of Iranian officials on Sunday.
He went on to say, “The experiences of the Islamic Republic of Iran at different stages of the post-Islamic Revolutionary [era] … can be inspiring for the region (Middle East and North Africa).”
Rafsanjani, however, insisted that Iran has never intended to meddle in other regional countries’ affairs.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian top cleric made a reference to the revolution in Bahrain, saying the Bahrainis are the most oppressed people compared with other regional nations, because no Arab and Western countries, worrying about their own interests, lends support to their movement.
In recent months, a wave of revolutions and anti-government uprisings has been sweeping the Arab world.
In January, a revolution in Tunisia ended the 23-year ruling of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
In February, another Arab revolution led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after three decades of his authoritarian rule.
Other revolutions are erupting in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain, while other anti-government unrests have swept Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria.
Meanwhile more Arab countries are expected to witness similar revolts.
——–Agencies