U.S.-Iran Group Unhappy With Berman-Pence Resolution

That (updated) House resolution on Iran from Reps. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.)? The National Iranian-American Council, which has played a leading role in publicizing and distributing information on the Iranian opposition this past week, has come out firmly against it. Here’s one of several statements posted to NIAC’s blog since last night on the resolution:

Though of course everyone supports free and fair democracies, Iran is a country in flux at the moment. If US political figures come out in strong support for Mousavi, then what? Won’t Ahmadinejad just use that to declare Mousavi is a puppet of the West? That certainly won’t do much to help the cause for reform in Iran.

There’s a snap poll on the NIAC blog asking readers whether the House should introduce the resolution. It’s a small and non-scientific sample, but it’s running about 84 percent against to 15 percent in favor. The resolution is likely to pass.

Meanwhile, last night Berman’s office emailed me this statement on the resolution from the congressman:

“It is not for us to decide who should run Iran, much less determine the real winner of the June 12 election. But we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely, and without intimidation.”