Iran-born bishop warns war may not bring change
BBCThe Bishop of Chelmsford has warned that the war with Iran may not lead to a brighter future for people in the Middle East.
Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, who was born in Iran, said she shared the "sparks of hope" felt by some that the conflict could bring about permanent change but she feared the present Shia Islamic regime could become "more entrenched and more violent".
The Church of England bishop also expressed concern about what has been "unleashed" by the Israeli-US attacks on Iran and the "unpredictability" of what might happen next.
"I feel a deep connection and a kind of profound longing to see better days for the country and for the people who so deserve it," she said.
ReutersFrancis-Dehqani was responding to a report shown on Politics East which had been filmed in Peterborough where several people from the Middle East expressed their hope that the war would lead to a brighter and more stable future for the region.
Abdullah, whose family is still in Tehran and did not wish to give his surname, said: "I think change in Iran is coming and I think this change will be for the better.
"Ultimately the people and politicians will bring about tranquillity and security to the nation."
Razgar Abdullah, an Iraqi Kurd, said: "I hope [the war] will bring peace and calm and brotherhood and a new life for the Middle East."
The bishop, who came to the UK aged 13 after her brother was murdered during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, said: "I do appreciate the sparks of hope that exist and I feel them myself as an Iranian... perhaps this is going to bring about the change that we so long for in Iran.
"My concern is this war is not going to do that. The aims are very unclear, so it's difficult to know when it's going to come to an end.
"Eventually, the bombing and the attacks will have to stop, and the leaders will have to return to the negotiating table."
She said she could not see the regime "easily giving up".
"They have a very, very powerful stronghold, and they are very, very brutal. There is, as far as I can tell, no kind of credible opposition around which people can coalesce.
"So my real anxiety is that, when the war finally stops, the current regime will simply become more entrenched and more violent.
"I have real concerns for the safety of people in Iran. And, of course, something has been unleashed, which is quite unpredictable now, right across the region."
The US and Israel have been targeting sites linked to Iran's nuclear programme - which Iran insists is entirely peaceful - and Iranian oil and gas sites.
Britain says it is offering defensive support to the US but says it will not be drawn into a wider conflict.
Asked whether she thought Britain's approach to the war was correct, Francis-Dehqani said: "I understand that now everything's unpredictable, so we'll have to wait and see how things evolve as to whether Britain does get more closely involved, and indeed, perhaps other nations as well.
"But for now, I think that there is wisdom in trying to tread this very fine path."
She added: "In the end, the leaders of these nations and groups will have to get round the negotiating table, and speak their way towards peace, with justice.
"The question is, how much killing is there going to be before that eventually happens?"
BBC Politics East was broadcast on Sunday, 22 March and is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer.
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