Bill Clinton: Iran is trying to ‘deny the modern world’
Tehran, riot police, June 14, 2009 On Saturday, Secretary Clinton’s husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said: What’s going on in Iran, really? … They have some ethnic differences there and some religious differences, but basically, this is about a government trying to deny the modern world. “And the idea is they just don’t ...
On Saturday, Secretary Clinton’s husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton said:
What’s going on in Iran, really? … They have some ethnic differences there and some religious differences, but basically, this is about a government trying to deny the modern world.
“And the idea is they just don’t think they can keep control, if everybody gets to say what they really believe, and go where they really want, and be who they want to be. … And they’re right.”
Clinton was speaking in Ohio at an awards luncheon honoring boxer Muhammad Ali, baseball player Hank Aaron, and comedian Bill Cosby for their contributions to civil rights.
Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images
Preeti Aroon was copy chief at Foreign Policy from 2009-2016 and was an assistant editor from 2007-2009. Twitter: @pjaroonFP
More from Foreign Policy

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose
Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy
The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now
In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet
As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.