Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for having me.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Absolutely. My point was that such people who would be drawn into the IRGC because of necessity or against their own choice would soon drop out of the IRGC. They would serve their time in the IRGC, one or two years, and then they would leave. But the IRGC, as an organization, prizes loyalty and keeps its members close even after their military service has long passed its duration.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The first point I would like to make is that the significance of this report is the report itself. The United Nations does not have an illustrious and consistent record of shedding light on human rights violations by repressive regimes. It has oftentimes focused in a petty fashion on criticizing and demonizing the imperfections of western democracies.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you for your question. There are significant restrictions inside Iran with regard to the freedom of association that apply to political parties and other civil society organizations. In the specific instance of labour rights, there are no legal independent unions inside the country.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I actually have done so already before coming to this session, so hopefully they will be available to you after we end our conversation. The answer to your question about companies is something I would like to follow up on with perhaps some written submissions. Because Iran has diplomatic relations with Canada, and you do cherish open relations with individuals who apparently pose no threat, and because Canada has a thriving energy industry, you have a significant presence of Iranians in your country.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you. My answer could be very brief: yes and yes. To be a little more specific, on the issue of the IRGC, I would like to make a specific point. Especially with countries like Canada that still have diplomatic relations with Iran, Iran has a history of using its embassies abroad as staging points for terrorist attacks.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  In so far as they prove themselves committed members of the organization ideologically, they continue to be card-carrying members of the IRGC long after they have abandoned the uniform. In view of this fact, they should be targeted.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I do want to make a point, though, that whether this route is practical, at least we should consider the fact—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  They should not be allowed to move about as if they were leaders of the free world, and should be constantly subject to chastisement, isolation, and condemnation when they visit foreign countries.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Israel is one of three countries that launched a pre-emptive strike against the nuclear facilities of an adversary. The other two, by the way, are Iran and Iraq. They both tried to neutralize each other's nuclear facilities at some point of the Iran-Iraq war, without success, by the way.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  On the one hand, the general feeling, I think, inside the country and among dissidents outside the country, is that a great opportunity was missed in 2009, and part of the reason that happened may have to do with the reluctance and the ambiguity of the Green Movement's leader to challenge the regime in such a radical fashion as to question its own legitimacy and very existence.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  --the opposition in some way can make a move and get organized and be able to confront the regime and bring it down. If we don't, it may happen tomorrow or it may happen in twenty years' time. If we do, we are likely to speed up the process.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think evidence has been gathered by various human rights organizations. I refer you to the reports by Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch that suggest that in principle you're absolutely right, that the level of repression has mounted inside the country following the 2009 elections.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think we have abundant anecdotal evidence of how ordinary Iranians are putting less and less faith in the party line, if you'll allow me the expression. One of the most popular TV programs that is being followed inside Iran is broadcast by a TV station that is based in a European country: Manoto TV.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  The Iranian regime looks to Syria as one of its key strategic assets. It will not allow the regime of Bashar al-Assad to fall without a fight. While it is difficult to ascertain the extent of direct Iranian involvement in the repression inside Syria, there are conclusive open source reports that the Iranian regime has been providing weaponry, financing, training, and perhaps boots on the ground through the participation of Hezbollah, which is an Iranian proxy, and possibly other forces inside Syria.