Iran’s Organized Reformers

And of Ahmadinejad's government?
Because of the anomalies during the 2005 presidential elections, I don't want to comment on this government. But I wish them success because their economic and foreign-policy failures would hurt our people.

Don't you think those who rigged the last vote can do it again?
That is one of my worries. But this time the candidates have been allowed to assign their own supervisors at the polls. People are more sensitive to anomalies. Also, our previous government [Khatami's] was not strong enough to protect people's votes. Even when Mr. Khatami was supposed to present a report about the problems with elections, he was reluctant to do so. I didn't raise hell at the time because I liked and respected Mr. Khatami. This time, if there are problems we can express our complaints publicly.

Do you favor resuming relations with the United States?
America doesn't have a good history in Iran, but I am in favor of resuming relations now. Even the late Imam Khomeini said that if the American government changes its behavior, we can resume relations with it. He didn't mean that the Americans should convert to Islam. It's just that the Americans should accept us as equals and respect our independence.

And then?
There are other issues, such as releasing frozen Iranian assets in America and stopping support of anti-Iranian terrorist groups.

What should the future American president do vis-à-vis Iran?
There are candidates now who talk about starting negotiations with Iran without any preconditions. Naturally, I'd like those candidates to be successful.

For example, someone like Barack Obama?
Yes. Or whoever who can play a positive role in the Middle East as a whole.