(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY AND SHELLY YANG
You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.
In an unexpected move, Syria’s longtime ally Iran has now called on President Bashar al-Assad to stop the country’s violent crackdown on protesters. Here’s Al Jazeera, with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s statement.
“We believe freedom, justice and respect are the rights of all nations and all governments must recognize these realities and rights. We think governments and nations should work together to solve their own problems. There’s no military solutions from them. They should solve problems through dialogue.”
A writer for The Atlantic attempts to make sense of Iran’s shift in attitude.
“As the Syrian uprising drags on, Iran - which has vocally supported other, more politically beneficial uprisings in the Middle East - is ... worried about being on the wrong side of popular sentiment in the region. … [Iran] may [also] be worried that reformist movements could crop up again at home if it continues to support the Assad regime.”
And the National Post points out the hypocrisy in Ahmadinejad’s statement.
“It’s not that Mr. Ahmadinejad has suddenly become squeamish about running over protesters with tanks. Tehran often uses the same tactics on its own people.”
Finally, the New York Times points out--by calling for Syria to end the violence, Ahmadinejad hopes to keep Assad in power.
“The collapse of the Assad government would be a strategic blow to Shiite-majority Iran, cutting off its most important bridge to the Arab world while empowering its main regional rivals, Saudi Arabia and its increasingly influential competitor, Turkey, both Sunni-majority nations.”
Transcript by Newsy
 |  |  |  |
