Another move to increase tensions between the two countries. The U.S. seized four mosques and a New York City skyscraper owned by a Muslim nonprofit organization suspected of Iranian links. In what could prove to be one of the biggest counterterrorism seizures in U.S. history, prosecutors on Thursday 12th November filed a civil complaint in federal court against the Alavi Foundation, seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in assets. The assets include bank accounts; Islamic centers consisting of schools and mosques in New York, Maryland, California and Houston; more than 100 acres in Virginia; and a 36-story Manhattan office tower [1]. Iranian authorities have condemned this action. Parliament speaker, Ali Larijani denounced this disgraceful action saying that these moves show that President Barack Obama’s slogan for change was deceitful. It seems that Obama’s ‘changes’ are increasing the tensions between the two countries. Iran was expecting to see a New America with President Obama in power. However, now parliament speaker says that Obama is no different from Bush. Larijani said that confiscating the properties of Alvi Foundation and the extension of sanctions against Iran for another year was a real disgrace. Obama came with the slogan of change but changes are easy to say and hard to practice. So you cannot really expect big changes to happen while Obama is in office because he has to work within a system in which he has faith. At least we should be happy that the word ‘terror’ does not exist in Obama’s literature as much as it was in the Bush’s. This is a positive change!
1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111500694.html
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