West Always Perceived Khatami as Liberal

PanARMENIAN.Net - The West always perceived Khatami as a leader of the liberal wing of the Iranian society, and first of all students, Armenian political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, when commenting on the isseu of a US visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. In his words, during Khatami's Presidency in Iran, especially during the first tenure, there was thaw in US-Iran relations. «Washington probably remembers differences between Khatami and ayatollah Khamenei, arisen at the time. Although Khatami lately made a few harsh statements, addressed to the US, Washington apparently views him as a potential leader of a democratic movement. Favor towards him, in the opinion of American strategists, should signal and stimulate proponents of democratic changes in the country. It is another attempt to split the Iranian society,» the political scientist said.