By Bijan Eftekhari

For years now, the United States as well as the European Community have been trying to stop Iran from coming into possession of nuclear weapons. A democratically elected government in Iran would help the United States to solve this critical issue peacefully without coming head to head with the current Iranian government. Reasons for the current Iranian regime wanting to obtain nuclear weapons can be summed up into one aim: holding its power. Ayatollah Khamenei and company know that obtaining nuclear weapons would keep them in power with their dictatorial regime and their harmful meddling in the region’s affairs.

The aspirations of the Iranian people are obviously different from those of the government they are oppressed under. Although Iran should have the right to nuclear energy used for peaceful purposes, the people are absolutely not interested in nuclear weapons. A democratically elected government must heed the will of the people, not its own personal agenda. Thus, when Iranians as a nation and a people elect a democratic government and choose their leaders, their will shall rule.

President Obama has been very careful in his response towards the current developments in Iran. I believe his response has been appropriate given that the people of Iran will and should determine their own destiny. However, it is crucial that at present the international community stand with the people of Iran because when the time comes, the people sacrificing their lives for freedom will remember who stood by them.