‘Death to America’ slogan prompts debate in Iran

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Financial Times:

For more than three decades, the slogan “Death to America” has been a feature of public life in Iran. In speeches and Friday prayers, audiences and worshippers have shown approval by repeating the phrase, sometimes including Israel and, formerly, the USSR, for good measure.

But President Hassan Rouhani’s new push for moderation at home and abroad – including a taboo-busting phone call on the nuclear crisis with President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly – have prompted calls for the slogan to be dropped.

Iran can “stand against powers which threaten our national interests with prudence rather than with slogans”, Mr Rouhani said on Tuesday, adding that his government had achieved more in foreign policy in 50 days than “could be done in 500 days”.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and a pillar of the political establishment, has also gone public with his opposition to the continued use of the phrase, recounting a private conversation with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of Iran’s revolution, who according to Mr Rafsanjani said the “Death to America” slogan could be dropped. He also recalled the late leader saying the US “should not be discouraged from re-establishing ties with Iran”.

The comments have caused fury among hardliners, who oppose any deal with the US over Iran’s nuclear programme and see the slogan as all the more important in the face of a possible thaw in relations with Washington.

Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of Kayhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of Iran’s hardliners, accused Mr Rafsanjani of deliberately misinterpreting the views of Ayatollah Khomeini to “justify” Iran’s outreach to the US.

The debate comes as the Islamic regime prepares to mark the 34th anniversary of the seizure of the US embassy on November 4, during which the US flag is usually set ablaze and “Death to America” is shouted around the country.

Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy commander for cultural affairs of the Revolutionary Guards, indicated there would be no change to this year’s commemoration. “‘Death to America and global Zionism’ will be echoed in all Iran’s cities and villages,” he vowed.

“The crimes of US leaders and international Zionism in dealing with Iran’s great nation will never be erased from public memories and minds,” he said, listing sanctions, the blocking of assets and the coup against Iran’s nationalist government in 1953 as proof of US hostility toward Tehran.

“‘Death to America’ cannot be given up easily after being the main slogan of the regime for such a long time,” said one analyst.

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Time for an update? Maybe "Some Pain to America" instead?