Iran expert briefs Australian opinion makers
Benham Ben Taleblu, an expert on Iran from the Washington-based Foundation for Defence of Democracies, has warned Australian policymakers of the dangers to international security and Australia’s interests posed by the current Iranian regime.
Mark Leibler, Benham Ben Taleblu, Joel Burnie
As a guest of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, he had an intensive schedule of round tables and one-on-one meetings in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, meeting with leading journalists, dozens of Federal Parliamentarians and the most important government and non-government policy think tanks.
Explaining the way Iran has been rapidly developing nuclear weapons capabilities, he also provided an overview of the vast range of weaponry being developed in Iran, noting that we now have the unprecedented situation where Russia is seeking and receiving weapons from Iran for its use against Ukraine.
At meetings with AIJAC supporters and other briefings, he also looked at the way in which Iran has employed proxy forces to further its global strategic ambitions. Taleblu explained that the Iranian regime was not seeking allies who shared its Islamic theological views but simply those who were opposed to the status quo and would, therefore would, act as agents of destabilisation in ways that also suited Iran.
In discussions with parliamentarians and analysts at policy institutes, he also noted the appalling human rights record of Iran towards not only religious and ethnic minorities but to any of its own citizens who challenged the governing theocracy.
A common theme was Iran’s cooperation and collaboration with Russia and China.
Dr Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of AIJAC, said that Benham Ben Taleblu’s visit “was a real eye-opener for many of our politicians and journalists” as he “made very clear the dangers posed by Iran and its proxies not just to its near neighbours but to countries as far afield as Australia”.
What is the upshot. The Iran developments have long been known in Australia and her allies. Nothing has been done to prevent them such as trade agreements with Tehran. Knowledge is important if it leads to action. Otherwise the ingathering of experts is a futile and self flattering.