The “Iran Deal”: Celebrating Hope
An Iranian reflects on “The Iran Deal”, the effects sanctions has had on his countrymen in years past, and a newfound hope in the future of his country.
This essay was published on July 20th, 2015 on www.jahamedia.com
Some questions have no answer, or depend on different point of view you can get various result. For the “historic” deal between Iran and the US, I have many unknown answer, it’s like a being inside a void to choose for your feeling, being happy or feel sad.
One thing for sure is the control of Media. Around ten years ago, After President Ahmadi-Nejad came to power; Iran was ISLAMIC republic of Iran. A dangerous place for tourist, Few month ago Iran gradually become Iran again, an exotic place for the curious mind of adventurous minds.
I’ve lived there almost all my life and even though we had the challenges we’ve had with our government, other peoples governments, and restrictions due the increasing improvements made by our government and the lifting of restrictions make us Iranians better people? No. Nothing changed, we are the same people who love to have guests and share our delicious food with them. What changed was behavior of media, the mind game that they have done for years and years.
This country has been under sanction after Islamic revolution and for the past 10 years. With sanctions becoming stricter and stricter over the years people here in Iran had a really rough time only because two men didn’t want to shakes hands. Finally, last week, they did! Iranians are celebrating not for them, not for the deal but for hope.
Sanctions are like a silent weapon; it kills and destroys silently and gradually. Many families destroyed, innocent kids died cause they couldn’t get OR afford medicine they needed for the health issues they had. Iranian currency dropped 4 times, many hopes and plans drowned in the darkness made by politicians from both sides.
On the other hand, if I’m to be completely honest and transparent with you, if there was no sanctions, the Iranian government might have never sat to talk with powers of the world. (I’m not saying this would be the case but it could have been) Understanding the reason behind all the reactions gives us all better picture of perspective from all sides, so, why do Iranians not really trust the US policy? The biggest one that changed the face of Iran was coup back in 1953 by CIA.
Time can change many things but not the history of a nation.
I asked myself the night of the deal, should I be happy about the deal? Or sad to see how much politics and media really have so much power over our life?
I am happy for the west that now they will be able to more clearly see and hopefully experience the beautiful culture of Iran and gets benefit from it as I, as an Iranian, learned a lot of positive things about life from the western culture. I hope they will enjoy reading Gholam Hossien Saedi’s “Two Brothers”, as I enjoyed reading Charles Bukowski‘s “Hot Water Music”.
But in the end, we should be happy to see people are celebrating and you see their smiles in the pictures. It tells us tomorrow will be a better day for them and for everyone.
To quote one of our poets:
“All human beings are different parts of the same body, who
Have inherited the same essence in creation
No part will rest in peace
If one is suffering pain
You will not deserve the name of human
If you are indifferent about others’ pains”
Sa’adi ( Iranian poet, 13th century)
