US-Iranians 'reveal' links to US democracy drive

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran yesterday defied US outrage to broadcast a television programme in which two US-Iranians jailed since May on charges of harming national security "revealed" their links to a US democracy drive.

Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh said in separate interviews that they had contacts with US institutions whose ultimate aim was to bring about change in the Islamic republic.

The programme -- "In the Name of Democracy" -- also showed pictures from the popular uprisings that swept Ukraine and Georgia in an apparent bid to link their case to alleged US efforts for regime change in Iran.

While the United States said it was "appalled" that the pair were to make apparent televised confessions, state television dubbed their interviews as "revelations".

The programme showed neither of them making any clear confession to harming national security. Iranian judicial officials have also been at pains to emphasise the pair's statements carry no legal validity.

"Their aim (the United States) is to bring about a change in the decision making bodies in Iran from within, to bring about a change in the decision makers themselves," Esfandiari said.

Iranian officials have repeatedly protested that the United States is seeking a "Velvet Revolution" in the Islamic republic along the lines of the largely peaceful overthrow of communism in Eastern Europe.

"How does a Velvet Revolution start? Who guides them? Who is next?" asked the narrator of the programme, before cutting to footage of Esfandiari.

Bizarrely, no mention was made in the programme that the two academics are currently jailed or face charges of harming national security.

Instead, the programme attempted to portray them as experts commenting at length on their US links while looking relaxed and seated in comfortable, well furnished rooms.

Both detainees looked in relatively good health, with Esfandiari, in a black headscarf, seated next to a potted plant, a large white fridge and her spectacles resting on a coffee table.

Tajbakhsh, sporting a neat beard and glasses, sat in a room equipped with a Persian carpet, television and a large shelf filled with books. He had papers on his lap to which he referred.

Esfandiari said she had been central in organising academic conferences that brought speakers from the Islamic republic to the United States.