Word: parsi
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...observes Trita Parsi, an expert on U.S.-Iranian relations, it's too early to read anything definitive into Ahmadinejad's latest statement about Israel. Though Ahmadinejad made the comment in a broadcast with a major U.S. television network reaching millions, Parsi notes, it seemed to come out as the result of a direct question posed by Stephanopoulos rather than as part of a clearly prepared statement. In the interview, Ahmadinejad also emphasized his well-rehearsed proposal for a referendum that he clearly hopes would enable the world's 10 million Palestinians to put an end to Israel's existence through...
Ahmadinejad is softening his tone when he says that Iran would not stand in the way if Palestinians opted for the two-state solution, establishing their own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and relinquishing claims to territory that constitutes the state of Israel. Still, Parsi says, this simply echoes the view expressed by Ahmadinejad's predecessors, including former President Mohammed Khatami. "For Ahmadinejad, this is a rather halfhearted shift, but it is important nonetheless," Parsi says. (See pictures of Scott MacLeod's interview with Ahmadinejad...
...ambivalence is wariness toward Obama's diplomatic overture. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently took note of Obama's kind words for Iran, but he questioned whether the new U.S. President was simply concealing an iron fist with a velvet glove. Although revolutionary ideology animates Iranian actions and rhetoric, Parsi believes that geopolitics is the main factor driving the Iranian regime's attitudes toward Israel and the U.S. In his book Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the U.S., Parsi details a 2003 peace plan in which Iran essentially agreed to abandon terrorism and support Arab-Israeli peace...
...even as Iran appears to be showing more confidence in the sincerity of Obama's olive branch, other doubts may be guiding Iran's response. One of them, Parsi says, is concern about whether Obama will be able to muster the political strength to pull off a rapprochement with Iran's leaders. "They are increasingly convinced that Obama is serious and that he is pursuing something that is more strategic than tactical," Parsi says. "But the question remains: Can he deliver on this?" Seen in this context, the jailing of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi on spy charges last week...
...properly conclude a feast like this you must, as the Parsis say, "mithoo munoo" - make the mouth sweet. Visit Parsi Dairy Farm, tel: (91-22) 2201 3633, for a taste of agarni nu ladvo. This conical dessert is made by simmering pulses and grains in sugary ghee. It is traditionally eaten to celebrate seven months of a pregnancy, but the declining number of Parsi births means that nowadays members of the community simply enjoy the dessert whenever they please. "Parsis will go extinct, but not the Parsi food," says Kohinoor. "Everyone loves the taste...