Iran was host to the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on 26-31 August 2012. In order to hold this gathering, the Iranian government spent a reported sum of six hundred million dollars. Tehran, a mega city of twelve million, was practically shut down for five days; a massive force of 110,000 people took over the security of the conference; 360 checkpoints were established in the city; and residents were encouraged to leave the city.
The state propaganda machine went into full swing to provide its narrative of this conference. As part of the publicity stunt, the vehicles belonging to Iranian nuclear scientists who were assassinated were put up on pedestals outside the conference venue with posters of their children. An article in British Guardian had this to say about the conference “To watch Iranian state television, you`d think the country was hosting the Olympics.“
Shahram Aghamir spoke with Professor Mansour Farhang of Bennington College about the significance of the summit and a few surprises that Iran regime had not planned for.
Mansour Farhang served as revolutionary Iran`s first ambassador to the United Nations. He is co-author of U.S. Press and Iran: Foreign Policy and the Journalism of Deference and other works on the U.S. foreign policy and U.S.-Iranian relations.