arrived in iran. iranians need to arrived in iran. iranians need to know who stand with them and who stand against them. as much as the people demand that, elements starting this regime know they can no longer -- they also have to make the position clear. it ties back to what i was telling you. the element of constant pressure on the system to bring this movement favoring the likelihood of more peeling away from the regime rather than the reverse. this is why it is so critical for the iranians to know that throughout this entire process, and as i say, there may be some at san flows, but the unconditionalebbs and flows -- ebbs and flows, but the unconditional elements of this

needs to be known. we have seen some internal fragmentation. >> i am from a neighboring area. the streets of teheran, tehran -- of iran, tehran, because the official figures to not seem to reflect the real level. and how the events going to develop? >> it is very, very difficult to have an actual headcount, because some of the victims' bodies are dragged to places that even their own families cannot recover them. that is also, perhaps, part of the contingency of the regime to hide as much as possible the number of the victims from public eye and public knowledge. it is difficult at this moment to give an actual headcount. the victims are numerous, not

just in the main cities, but the provinces. not all the numbers have been reported by the media. i am not faulting the media -- it discuss you perhaps do not have access within iran to get such data. -- it is because you perhaps do not have access within iran. i want to express my gratitude to summon a -- so many who have the opportunity to connect and said this kind of information. we may be able to get a better assessment. as for the veracity of the information, from my own part, i am trying to be extremely careful to make sure that the information we receive is accurate, because in the middle of this game, some people always try to come every now and then, and i hate to use this word -- tried to get cute and exaggerate numbers and things like that. we are very cautious about statistics and numbers that we get.

but to address a question, the numbers have been able but higher than what has so far been reported. we hope this will not continue, in the sense that we will try to encourage, as i said earlier, the security forces to reduce their crackdown. but we cannot control in any form, and as i said, there are two elements that are the question mark -- how long will the basij continue with the instruments of recession, but also the hired thugs within the regime? right in the same complex which was the other dicks complex in tehran -- the olympics complex in tehran, there is a group of five dozen people are more who have been specifically trained -- 5000 people or more who have been specifically trained, if called for by the regime, as the

instrument. i also heard reports that the machine as important elements from abroad, up from pakistan, from hamas, being used to quash people as we speak. how many elements from outside coming in as a direct collision as to whether the regime will still utilize them and create more casualties. >> bonjour. i would like to come back to present topic. i would like to know if you think president obama -- >> name and organization. >> do you think that president obama's statements were forceful enough? do you wish he would condemn more directly the actions of the actual regime? >> as i said in my press conference -- this is not just

directed to president obama, but to all world leaders who can take a defined position on the subject -- if you separate the issue of what could be argued or painted as interference in the nation's, from the issue of standing firm on the question of human rights violations, in which there is no reason why this regime or any can object to the fact that, whether it is president obama with canadian prime minister or the french president, will make life easier for the heads of state to be able to say exactly what we expected them to say, showing absolutely no remorse or any kind of caution when they stand firm on that question. separating one from the other. let's not have the regime in iran define what is interference and what is not, as i said in my opening statement. that is what i hope the white house, state department, and other governments and their foreign ministries could absorb

and understand, that this is expected, and they should have no fear or question in their mind that they will come in any form or shape jeopardize or give ammunition to the regime to use that as a pretext for an excuse. >> but you think -- but do you think that president obama was too cautious? >> it started on a curve, and he is caught up to what some of his colleagues, or more forceful in statements -- who were more forceful and estimates, had said earlier. if the white house itself shows more than activity and language and town with the streets of teheran, that is a good progress, and we encourage and appreciate that as well. >> you mentioned that some elements of hamas in iran are defending the region. my question is what about

hezbollah? there are some elements of hezbollah in iran. second question, what is your opinion about mousavi exactly? >> well, the regime will obviously have the ability to call upon proxy's it has set up for -- from years ago. hizbollah in lebanon, for instance. speaking of hezbollah, there are elements that are recruiting, as far as the venezuela and colombia members for hezbollah. can i call them back for additional help? evidently, they are doing that in some cases. it has been reported that hamas elements have been called by the regime for suppression inside iran right now. it is no longer question of any

particular candidate, it is about the sanctity of the ballot box and sovereignty and the legitimacy of the regime as a whole. the fate of people like mr. mousavi lies, in my opinion, as it clear demarcation from the regime. you cannot on the one hand be a candidate of people demanding justice and peace of the the regime -- demanding justice vis- a-vis the regime and uphel the system. that will be the question of whether or not he has actually peeled away from the system for the people. you cannot have any more. -- cannot hedge any more. you have to pick one of the other. >> i am a member of the national

press club and a freelance writer from buffalo, new york. in your earlier answer, you leave open the door for future participation in a democratic iran. can you tell us, if you have any research today, that tells how many people would support you in iran? in other words, in this turbulent time, what is your approval rating? >> well, people support me because of the very fact we're talking the same language -- freedom,, democracy, human rights. i'm not demanding people to support me today because of me. i'm demanding people support me so that i can best serve them achieve what their goal is, which is to achieve freedom. that is a totally different function. if tomorrow -- for the umpteenth time, i repeat -- if tomorrow in

iran there was a choice for people to say "we want mr. pahlavi, after liberation, if we want to be in -- if we want him to be involved," we will hear the answer that. that question is irrelevant, irrelevant to what we're doing now. i have just as many supporters who are republicans and would want to have a republic in iran, but support me as someone committed to bring everyone under the same flag to fight a common cause for freedom. this is not about ideology or an institution. this is about democracy and human rights. this is what i am standing for. this is my unique platform. it is not about an institution it. it is not about the past. it is about where we are now and what we want to go. -- and where we want to go. i will leave that to date to the

iranian people to debate in the constitution form of government they want to have. but i sincerely do not believe that this is today's today. the people i talk to on every walk of the iranian families are not focused on talking about the party affiliation or the social economic problems or whether i'm a monarchist or a republican. today, the first priority for us is freedom. we are there to guarantee the fact that no iranian will be left behind in his stores are votes. we are fighting first and foremost for that right to freely decide. i stand, if not with a 17 million. and, -- 17 million armenians, 60 million armenians -- iranians, to upend the system.

[applause] >> kyoto news. i have a question about the numbers coming out to the rally spurred we have heard mixed reports about how many are attending. if you have an idea from the sources of whether the numbers have changed greatly in the past week and half, and whether you see them growing in the next few days. >> the numbers have been quite high. i think it has been, perhaps, the biggest gatherings that i remember ever in the history of iranian politics. not just in tehran, but the overall numbers of people being out there, and not just because of a political campaign or election campaign. now the call on the streets is everybody saying "we want freedom." this is well beyond elections

now. this is about the sanctity of the ballot box. the flagrant stealing of the vote -- not necessarily because of this or that candidate, people saying "we have had it. how long are we going to put up with this situation is clear that is the spirit of this movement, which has grown -- how long are we going to put up with this situation?" it is clear that that is the spirit of this movement. only a few months ago, most of the world media would say, "well, at least iran has more democracy than many of its neighboring countries, because they have elections." well, that elections in the soviet union -- they had elections in the soviet union. it involves everyone. it is beyond one camp or another. it is not about those who are

supporters of mr. mousavi, or those who are supporters of x, y, scorceor z. this theocracy has basically lost any last shred of legitimacy that it could have claimed by virtue of the final positioning of the supreme leader, the fact of the past has come off and the regime is pretty much moving into the direction of becoming a complete police state and dictatorship. it respective of whether it is religious or not religious, it is the ultimate nature. fluctuations may exist, as i said in my opening statement earlier, depending again on sustenance or not. in terms of the collective, grass-roots movement, it is moving, as i'm speaking to you today, more and more in terms of participation.

that is the natural conclusion of the effect of people moving away from the regime had been lost completely its legitimacy. that is to be anticipated. that is to be anticipated. >> i am full of questions today. i was wondering if you could speak about the struggle going on with the religious groups and the whole idea of one person who went there to try to smooth over some things. we saw the arrest of his family. do you think that perhaps we have not heard much from him is a signal that perhaps he is getting support. reince party are some people speak out. good to flesh out that -- there is a party of some people who has spoken out. could you tell us that out for us?

the religious side of this? yes. k bothere is a moment rival anticipate more and more of members of the traditional clergy who from the very beginning were outside of the system. they were encouraged to make more clear of a statement. the very fact that what he created action 1979 goes against the very attendant rigid tenet -- goes against the very tenet which it is not the responsibility of the clergy to govern. they say that from day one. some of them have put on house

arrest. one person was tortured in prison. i was sent an open letter that was appealing to the open community to have someone look into his case. become a defining moment for clerics both in the interest of the nation, but also in the interest of the faith and the clerical establishment, to show a complete demarcation from the system. >> i have a quick question -- my understanding is that there is a fair amount of differences between the iranians in the countryside and those in the cities. what proportion of the population lives in cities, to what extent to the protesters represent the people of iran? >> i did not hear the last part of your question.

>> to what extent to the protesters represent the people of iran? >> you have people from all walks of life walking those streets. even including the clerics and members of the militias that are part of the system, who also show solidarity or some kind of coordination with complicity. i think it is very broad based. it is not limited just to the intelligentsia or a group of students. no, it is people all ages and all walks of life in the society that are in defiance, collective defiance, of this regime. >> mondawmin for middle east truth. as you know, mir hossein mousavi was a member of the republican guard and had to be selected by the clerics even in order to run. you really feel that this is about the election and the

corruption of the ballot box, or that what we're seeing in the streets is just the final straw on the back of the pressure cooker of people that are yearning to be free? >> iranians will examine with much scrutiny after the hold dust settles, so to speak, everyone's track record one way or the other, and the ultimate judgment rests with the iranian people at the end of the day. what is important is to remain focused on the job at hand. .

by actual proof to earn people's trust that you are on our side, to join that group, i welcome it and i encourage it. this is what it is about right now. we know that as long as this regime is there, as long as the system is in place, we will not see the light of day. we know that this regime ultimately may go -- must go. do you remember past administrations? many of us knew it led nowhere, but it had to be at least attempted. it did not work for obvious reasons.

now, there is no question that iran and understand that the only way we will rid ourselves of all the problems is a matter of this regime's altman collapse. that is what we demand and what we want to see happen. this is our moment of truth. the hour for iran after 30 years. anyone today, but solidarity and ryan's will speak more and more. even in the span of one week, we have seen that the demand that started on saturday, june 13th, one day after the june 12th date, and you contrast statements coming from iranians

to today, you will notice that in the span of just one week, how quickly more and more people have been telling you through your own broadcasts our post -- aside from direct reports to me, what this is really about. it will only become more and more, also understand that there is still for millions of americans this atmosphere of fear to some extent. not of standing up and dying for their cause, they are doing so. but their fear of expression that gives of the regime the excuse to pinpoint them now. the collective movement will make people's lips and mao's

open up more. >> >> we are receiving e-mail from iran. why isn't the war the same as they did in south africa? why in our -- why aren't they closing the embassy? thank you very much. >> i think that -- is what they are responding to. statements by many governments that have become stronger, not because they realize we have to take a position, but because they have been encouraged by

iran itself. >> you have no choice to --. my concern is the present situation in iran. i am hoping and praying that we are not going into the hands of a -- and degradation. it can be viewed by foreign elements suspiciously for the benefit of one country against iran. that has been the case many times years ago in iran come in

1953, also with the situation in iraq. >> i hear you. >> so it will not interfere again, unless good intentioned people of iran -- >> the world is reacting to millions of people on the streets of iran demanding their rights. this is not a concocted under the radar conspiracy deal of some government to try to provoke unrest in the country. let's look at the facts as they develop. there were many outside who said

they would rather speak to the status quo, we have to worry about the vote and this and that. additionally, they were disturbed about the fact that something could be changing in iran and they have no choice but to support it. this is the world reacting to a demand that people have. iranians realize this is our movement and they have ownership of it. let's be clear on that. what they are saying is, this or that country, who we know until now for what ever reason, chose to overlook us for the sake of political expedience. will they come and take a position?

i think this is the first time in modern history that the demand of the people, of the normal man and woman on the street, i am not talking about officials, people on the street are asking for the world to interfere. this is the first time ever in iranian history. i have no confusion on that subject. [applause] thank you very much. if i may, on behalf of many who have specifically asked me to tell you from the four corners

of iran, from the high-school is, from a seminary group, from students, from factory workers, they have all asked me among other things to tell you, the members of the media how much they appreciate your attention on the iranian cause, and some of them in a more audacious way, it isñññññññ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009]

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