Under oath, Sen. John Kerry’s chief Iranian-American fund-raiser repudiated the presidential candidate’s policy of accommodation toward Tehran, declaring the Islamic regime should not be trusted with nuclear materials.
Hassan Nemazee, 54, a New York investment banker and former board member of a pro-Tehran lobby, delivered a one-hour deposition today in New York City in a $10 million defamation lawsuit against Aryo Pirouznia, leader of the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran.
Nemazee charges Pirouznia with defamation of character for accusing him of being an Iranian government agent. In a countersuit, Pirouznia contends that supporters of the cleric-led regime are funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Kerry campaign.
In his deposition today, Nemazee acknowledged he has raised about $500,000 for Kerry.
But he said if the Democratic nominee had asked him his view of the Iranian regime, he would have said it should be trusted with no other intention than to build nuclear weapons.
Jerome Corsi, a consultant to Pirouznia, attended the videotaped deposition and described it as “explosive.”
“We should have a transcript and videotape of it soon; it will be very important for the American people to see this,” said Corsi, who also is co-author of the best-seller challenging Kerry’s Vietnam War record and post-war activism, “Unfit for Command.”
Pirouznia will work closely with Corsi on a new book about the Iranian-Kerry connection, “Atomic Islam,” to be published by WND Books in 2005.
Despite top Iranian officials openly calling for the development of nuclear weapons within the next four months and overwhelming confirmation from intelligence, Kerry has been insisting as president he would provide Tehran with nuclear fuel as long as it is used only for peaceful purposes.
During the first presidential debate, Kerry said, “I think the United States should have offered the opportunity to provide the nuclear fuel, test them, see whether or not they were actually looking for it for peaceful purposes.”
The same policy of accommodation toward Iran’s nuclear aspirations is outlined on Kerry’s campaign website.
Today, when questioned about the nature of the Islamic regime, Nemazee admitted it was sympathetic to terrorism and presented a threat to the world and the United States.
Nemazee warned that Kerry should do nothing to lend credibility to the regime and that normalizing relations with Iran would be a mistake.
The Iranian-American banker said he would be delighted to see regime change in Tehran.
He said the half a million dollars raised for Kerry included contributions from people in his building in New York City and from personal friends.
Nemazee said, however, he could not explain the inconsistency of having been a board member of the American-Iranian Council, which is on record in support of normalizing relations with Tehran.
Nominated as U.S. ambassador to Argentina by President Clinton in 1999, Nemazee eventually withdrew after a former partner raised allegations of business improprieties, WND previously reported.
In addition to nuclear accommodation, Kerry has embraced other key positions held by wealthy Iranian-Americans lobbying for Tehran, including ending the finger printing of Iranian visitors to the U.S; expanding “family reunion” visas to allow more immigration; offering a “dialogue” with the cleric regime; and helping Iran join the World Trade Organization.
Pirouznia, noting “America is incredibly popular with the Iranian masses,” says Kerry’s policy is “a grave mistake for a short-term benefit.”
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Money trail behind Kerry’s Iran stance
Kerry would still supply Iran with nuclear fuel
Kerry: U.S. should’ve given nuclear fuel to Iran
Iranian leader wants nuke in 4 months
Kerry influenced by Iranian funders?
Kerry taking campaign to the enemy?
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