Story 2

Taylor Johnson

Comjour 333

October 10, 2013

Washington State University hosted an event that was open to the public on Thursday which announced a potential better relationship between U.S and Iran relations hosted by Abbas Milani.

Sanford Professor Abbas Milani spoke about the relations between U.S and Iran and how it has a potential of becoming better in the future.

Abbas Milani expressed greatly his thoughts about the U.S and Iran relations. Being a professor, and being a well-known author has taught him throughout the years how important the relationship between the two countries really is.

Milani spoke about the relations between the U.S and Iran started what the most complicated issues are, and what happened yesterday which was an important day to remember. U.S/ Iran relations began in 1850.

       

   “Iran’s first interaction was with the American’s were the missionaries, and the missionaries began to arrive unmasked and they virtually could not convert a single person.” Said Milani

This was a time where it was looked down upon if you were born Muslim, and you wanted to convert out of it, you were going to be executed; however, if you were not Muslim, and you didn’t have a religion, and you wanted to be a Muslim that was completely understood. So converting to another religion was slim to none. Thankfully, times have changed since then and now there are thousands of people who have crossed over to Christianity.  

People have compared the tragic event of 9/11 to the country of Iran. Milani expressed that there is no way that you can just blame that event on the 19 Arabs that were involved. It is very easy to just pin point it and say it was their entire fault; however, that is not the case.

Sahar Vahabzadeh, a student here at Washington State University spoke about her connections to the Iranians.

“I don’t see how people can get a hold of that many medicines and I think the sanctions are hurting the people of Iran, and the town I once knew.” Vahabzadeh expressed.

The first thing we need to do to stop this from occurring is to take initiative and actually look at the legitimate concerns.

Sources: Abbas Milani (650) 721-4052 

Sahar Vahabzadeh: sahar.vahabzadeh@email.wsu.edu