Iranian
President Hassan Rohani's charm offensive continues at home with a musical clip
that seems to have been inspired by U.S. President Barack Obama's "Yes We
Can" music video.
The
beautifully made black-and-white clip,
which includes segments of the Iranian president's August 3 inauguration
speech mixed with music, singing, and sign language, has been released to mark
the first 100 days of his presidency.
Obama's
2008 "Yes We Can" clip was created with the participation of some 30
Hollywood actors and singers.
Rohani's
video was posted on his website and shared on Twitter by the unverified account
of the Iranian president, which is said to be maintained by his media team.
WATCH:
Rohani's 100 Days
The clip,
which features a well-known singer and actor, Amir Hossein Modaress, was
produced by Iranian documentary-maker Hossein Dehbashi, who also worked on
Rohani's election campaign videos. Dehbashi has been quoted by Iranian media as
saying that the video was created "spontaneously."
In the
clip, unprecedented for an Iranian president, people of all ages play musical
instruments and sing to Rohani's words in Persian, but also in the languages of
Iran's minorities, including Kurdish and Arabic.
The clip
also includes sound bites from prominent figures in Iran's modern history
including Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the founder of the Islamic
Republic Ruhollah Khomeini.
The main
takeaway of the clip seems to be unity:
Let space and opportunity be given to all Iranians who are devoted to this land. Let those who are competent serve the nation. Let their hearts be cleansed from hatred. Let reconciliation replace anger and friendship replace enmity.
Rohani said
his government wants happiness to return to the Iranian people's lives and
calls on God to guide him.
Dehbashi
lived in the United States for several years. He was arrested in 2010,
allegedly for forging a United Nations letter that accompanied his immigration
application. Upon returning to Tehran, Dehbashi claimed he had been held in solitary
confinement by the FBI.
-- Golnaz Esfandiari
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