They have some good scientists there. I predict nuclear powered F1 cars in the future?
Yes, aimed at the States! Joking. Btw. I know someone of Iranian descent who would be more than happy to organise the GP: Reza Mokhtarian!
Can you do it in Dubai, Bahrain or Qatar? I don't know. These places host F1, MoroGP or the football world cup though... Iran is barbaric they say; maybe but what the difference with Saudi Arabia that behade people, forbid women to drive, stone gays, etc.. Western countries don't seem to have a problem with Saudi Arabia. Too much double standards applied to Iran, IMO.
I think this thread is turning a bit too PR. I would prefer not having an Iranian GP (or Bahrain, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, India, etc) and return to the older tracks with upgraded facilities. F1 shouldn't just go with who is willing to pay the most regardless of the product of the track. And both of my parents are Iranian and I've been there a couple times...
F1 is going to new audiences in new countries, that we like it or not. "Who pays the piper calls the tune" as they say ...
One of my favorite Techno DJ's is Ali Shirazinia better known as Dubfire. His family left Iran for the US when he was a child. I'm sure F1 could tap him for some PR. Image Unavailable, Please Login
This is the kind of comment that makes me fear much more the Christians from the Bible Belt than the Muslims from a country like Iran. ;-) If you were not brainwashed by Fox News, you would know that in Tehran Christians practice their faith freely and that is has Christians churches like any other city in the Western world. Not only that, but even the Iranian constitution guarantees a minimum number of spots for each religious minority in the Congress. There are even Iranian Jewish congressmen!
I get letting bygones be bygones - but how can you make peace with a nation who's leaders want to ( and encourage and actively state ) wipe Israle from the map? Iran denies any form of religious freedom? completely intolerant of women and gays? Its not the 12th century any longer. Nixon and China was completely different. #1 - while they helped North Korea and North Vietnam, it was not actively helping foster terrorism through religous beliefs.... #2 they possesed nuclear weapons adequate to cause catastrophic damage to human kind #3 it was a strategic move against the USSR. None of the above is the case with Iran. I believe your own Winston Churchill stated that dealing with appeasment only begets more demands.... I think for a country like Iran to want to host an F-1 race is great, but first make it so that everyone can enjoy the country and its 5000 years of heritage vs. just the Muslim Iranian few.
Umm... I dont think its just Fox news that puts this out. I'm friends with the two Iranian sisters who were able to escape Iran and talk about the persecution of christians in Iran. it may seem that publically they can practice their religons, but in reality not. the government keeps very close and tight control on what you can say and do regardless of the religions practice. Jews are not well liked either. F-1 in my opinion still has no place in Iran as it is today. Not that the Shah was a great guy, but i would suggest that the people and Iran its self was far better off under his rule.
Ummm... this is quite debateable. It´s not that the current guys are great, but the Shah was way too far from being Mr. Nice Guy. Well, end of off topic, back to F1: this is a quite controversial issue. As you all remember, there were riots in Bahrain a few years ago that forced to cancel the GP. China, Kazakhstan, or India before, have too many issues to think about races. Vladimir Putin used the Russian GP to do a bit of self promo. And some may say that in Texas there´s still death penalty. Where do we draw the line? There´s another issue: if a GP in Iran means that Spa or Monza are out, then I say: HELL, NO!
I wasn't being serious. And not that it matters and I'm not turning this thread , but even though I'm conservative, I don't watch fox news.
The West demonises Iran because it cannot control it: its puppet has been overthrown!! Here is what Wikipedia says about Iran: "The Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1906 established the nation's first parliament , which operated within a constitutional monarchy . In 1951 Mohammad Mosaddegh was elected prime minister . He became enormously popular in Iran after he nationalized Iran's petroleum industry and oil reserves. He was deposed in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état , an Anglo-American covert operation that marked the first time the US had overthrown a foreign government during the Cold War ] Following a coup d'état instigated by the U.K. and the U.S. in 1953, Iran gradually became autocratic. After the coup, the Shah became increasingly autocratic and Sultanistic . Arbitrary arrests and torture by his secret police, SAVAK , were used to crush all forms of political opposition Growing dissent against foreign influence and political repression culminated in the Iranian Revolution , which led to the establishment of an Islamic republic on 1 April 1979." No wonder Iran doesn't like the West after that !!
Well, you would say that, of course! Reza Pahveli was an US-puppet, put back in power by a CIA coup, controled by Washington to apply policies in favour of US interests, using his US-trained secret police! Before 1953, and US intervention, IOran was a relatively democratic country, increasingly westernised (like Iraq). But Western interference has thrown the population in the arms of extremist religious leaders who were the only opposition left and took the upper hand. Another catastrophic failure of Western misguided policies...
Well, under the Shah at least Iranians were able to leave their country as they pleased. Yes, it was a totalitarian state, however it was hardly democratic during mosedqeuh ( sp?) he was its lone ruler who deposed the Pahveli's father ( who was admittedly a bit mentally ill, and weak ) As a superior Brit I would suggest to you that you search your own countries dubious history as it relates to Iran. The Brits took over during WWII to prevent Iran going with the Axis - the Persians are the Ayrans... so Hitler took a shining to them... perhaps Mr. Mosley has a soft spot for Ayrans and is helping Bernie rekindle some contacts? regarding the Deposition of the monarchy pre Reza - it was the brits who engineered the overthrow - and any clue for what? Oil ever come to mind? perhaps the post war doldrums were just a bit too much in jolly old blighty? And for your clarification it was both MI6 and CIA who brought back the Shah... the UK has been just as devious as the USA... we just dont cover up our crappy world doings as well as the Brits.... I apologize for getting into political discussion - but its relevant if F-1 wants to go to Iran just for the money... Oh Yea, I forgot that exotic cars and racing is HUGE in Iran with the Mullahas and Ayatollas.... in fact racing is mentioned in the Quoran... as not to be engaged upon.... Iran if reports can be beleived is doing it to gain access to financial outlets ... Bernie is just starved for cash and at 80+ he could really care less about what people think -he's lived more lives than any of us can imagine... What I find totally un beleviable is that Formula One has become so desprate that it will do a deal with anyone that has the cash. Honor, glory and sportsmanship dont even enter into the discussion. What I would be for is that Iran pay the fees for races in Italy, France and Germany. do that, and pump out some friendly messages - perhaps you can then be believed.
So here is the difference as I see it ( my personal view ) at least in the USA you do have a trial by your peers to determine if you get the dealth penalty. in Russia - you can just be killed infront of the Kremlin and no questions asked. Putin is such a wild and Crazy guy!
Believe me, I completely condemn British policies in the Middle East, past and present. It never brought us any rewards, and certainly not peace. When you become hostile to a country, you bring out the most extremists elements, and then you have to deal with the consequences. Western countries never learn that simple lesson. Without Western interference, there wouldn't have been communism in South East Asia, the Taliban, Al Qaeda or ISIS in the Middle East. They are the product of our foreign policies. It seems that we just cannot leave things alone ... Reza's father was forced to abdicate because he was pro-German. His son was more maleable and accepted British influence in Iran (BP). Many leaders in the Middle East were pro-German then, simply because Britain or France were seen as the oppressive colonial powers they wanted to get rid of, not for ideological reasons. 20 years before, these leaders were pro-British or pro-French to get rid of the Ottoman empire. Alliances fluctuate, i's easy to understand. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Many people voted Putin. Of course that doesn't mean that he's always right, or that all he does is fair or legal. Just like death penalty or some strong handed tactics against inmigration that Texans have. BTW, I don't think that Austin should be banned from F1, but the question remains: where is the line? Why China is OK but Iran not?
Politics aside, I can't see how they can get over the marketing and visa problems. But then they have a GP in Russia and it's darn difficult for people from many countries to get a visa there now.
Do they have Death to America rallies in Beijing? Has China claimed it wanted to nuke another country for years on end? We all have to live by our actions. I'm fine with Iran getting a GP. I don't think anyone is saying they shouldn't. The point is... would you GO there to see it? I wouldn't. You don't have to go to the China GP or Russian GP either. And they don't need to come to Austin if they don't want to as well.
I think you will find that its most of the western world that may have a problem with going to Iran, not just America. After all F1 is based in Europe (uk), america is just part of the F1 spectator circus. And i agree with the rest of your sentiment.
