More Uncle Napoleon style posturing by Iranian officials

CNN has reported that Iran may review its ties with the United Kingdom because of "interference in Iran's recent post-election unrest,"

Iranian Foreign Minister Uncle Napoleon, sorry Manouchehr Mottaki accused Britain of interfering in the country's recent vote(see my earlier post below. It also explains the Uncle Napoleon reference if you are not familiar with it). In addition Iran's parliamentary speaker, Uncle Napoleon, sorry Ali Larijani, submitted the request Monday to the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission which called on the Foreign Ministry to review the relationship
"The Islamic Republic of Iran favours the expansion of relations with all countries, but will never accept interference of other states in its internal affairs,"

According to CNN (and this is something I missed yesterday) Mottaki accused Britain of supporting followers of the persecuted Baha'i faith (more on this above).

Once again Britain has become Iran’s number one demon. There are good historical reasons for Iran to be deeply suspicious of our country but right here, right now the Iranian government is passing the blame for a situation totally of its own making.

Uncle Napoleon alive and well and working as Iranian Foreign Minisiter

A Tehran Times article called The sun has set on the British Empire, so stop interfering Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki accused the United Kingdom of a list of infamous acts against the paradise that is the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to Mr Mottali Britain sent secret service into Iran, not in ones, twos or even fours, but in “droves” - “We witnessed an influx of people (from Britain) before the election. Elements linked to the British secret service were flying in in droves,”.

He called on Britain to stop interfering in Iran’s internal affairs, saying its officials must realize that the expression “the sun never sets on the British Empire is no longer true.” (well golly gee willakers, and there we were thinking that a quarter of the world was still painted pink!)

Mottaki then went on to denounce certain Western governments and Western media outlets for their hasty reactions toward Iran’s presidential election and asked them to revise their attitude toward events in Iran.

Starting with France he accused the nation of having to put up with political lightweights who are “auctioning off” the French Revolution’s achievements” (I know it was a mistake to sell off that guillotine!)

Meanwhile Germany’s leaders are hostage to the Zionists’ terrorist policies, saying their country has been implementing policies in tandem with Tel Aviv. As a result it is in “no position to express views on Iran’s transparent election”, he added.

Methinks Mottaki has been listening too hard to the Wit and Wisdom of Comical Ali. In one sense it is amusing to see that Britain remains Iran’s default bogeyman even though our influence is much reduced. But then again at is perhaps no surprise - Britain’s (usually detrimental) interference in Persian/Iranian affairs over the years are a matter of record

"Uncle Napoleon" is a reference to Iraj Pezeskhad’s wonderful comic novel My Uncle Napoleon. The Uncle Napoleon of the title, was a blustery former army officer who genuinely believed he was involved in battles against the British Empire in his youth and that the British (the book is set in WWII when Iran was under British/Soviet occupation) are out to get him.

The novel is so popular in Iran (and should be popular anywhere people can read) that the expression Uncle Napoleon is used as shorthand for those people in Iran who believe that foreigners are the cause of all of their country’s woes.