Boozman Speaks Directly to Iranian People

Boozman Speaks Directly to Iranian People

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today conversed directly with the people of Iran, appearing on a live television broadcast of the Voice of America Persia service.

Boozman was the guest on Roundtable Live, an hour-long call-in show broadcast into Iran during the 9 p.m. hour, local time. Boozman took calls from residents inside Tehran, and other cities in Iraq.

The broadcast was in Farsi. Boozman's answers were translated in real-time.

Callers to the program did not identify themselves by name, while most did not reveal their location. A producer with VOA Persia said this was a common occurrence, as callers were afraid of government backlash for watching, and participating in, a Western broadcast.

"This was a powerful experience for me," Boozman said. "I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to hear the concerns of Iranians who are on the inside, and under the rule of such a repressive regime.

"I hope my appearance gave the Iranians watching through the jammed signal, and ex-patriots around the world, a better understanding of America's opinion of the Iranian people, and how that is different and unique of our opinion of the Iranian government," Boozman added. "The outreach of the Voice of America was an important tool during the Cold War, and I am a big supporter of today's efforts to bring the story of America to the world."

Many of the calls Boozman took dealt with the nuclear proliferation of Iran, and fears of armed conflict between the U.S. and the Iranian regime.

There were also poignant personal stories of the loss of loved ones since the revolution in Iraq, which installed a hard-line Islamic government.

"The final call I took was a woman full of emotion detailing the loss of three family members who disagreed with the Iranian regime. Only a broadcast outlet like the VOA can bring a story like that to light," Boozman said.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=57811