George Bush, revolutionary!

This was an exchange during The News Hour last night between Iranian experts and anchor Margaret Warner who was expelled from Iran during her trip 2 weeks ago.

NASSER HADIAN: We would like basically to preserve the status quo. This is America, who wants to change the status quo. America wants to democratize the region. But that's basically a recipe for a kind of change which no one knows what would be the end result of such a kind of changes.Thus, America is a revolutionary force now, and Iran is very much a status quo power.


MOHAMMAD ATRIANFAR (through translator): Since the U.S. brought up this axis of evil slogan and talked about regime change in Iran, namely, the toppling of the present government, it meant that they are trying to play with our destiny.

Under those conditions, any country would play to its strengths. What are Iran's strengths? Are they political? No. Are they scientific? No.The only advantage Iran has is the geopolitical position it enjoys, which is why it emphasizes that. And where can this advantage can be found? In power.

MARGARET WARNER: Power, notes Trita Parsi, that Iran is using to play a double game in neighboring Iraq -- supporting the government, but also Shiite militias contributing to the violence.

TRITA PARSI: They want to have a little bit of chaos, in order to ensure that the United States is a little bit bogged down, and can't exercise a military option against Iran. And, on the other hand, they don't want things to go out of control, because that would be equally detrimental to them. It could lead to a civil war. And a civil war would be disastrous for Iran.

MARGARET WARNER: Iran's aging revolutionaries haven't abandoned the anti-U.S. rhetoric that marked the hostage crisis at the former U.S. Embassy here 27 years ago. But observers say, what Tehran craves above all is respect and recognition from the United States.