Iran Video Report

There is much more to Iran than the political storm swirling around it.

Note: This is a transcript of Kevin Sites' video report from

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA:
In the 26 years since the Islamic Revolution, this enormous gathering for Friday prayers here at the University of Tehran has become not just a regular religious event, but a political one as well. And though it represents a facet of life here in Iran, it’s by no means the whole story.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
These are not the images you’d normally associate with the Islamic Republic of Iran: the sounds of a heavy metal band; guys slamming and jamming on the basketball court; or even a weekend flea market.

This might not be what you expect either: heroin addicts lining up for an innovative methadone treatment and a needle exchange program.

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA: How big is the drug problem in Iran?

DR. BIJAN NASSIRIMANESH/PERSEPOLIS HARM REDUCTION CLINIC, ON CAMERA: It’s big because we have a 75-million population and a very young one. We have a two-million number for drug users. It is big and a lot of them use opium and opium is a very hard drug.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
There’s also a national

DR. MINOO MOHRAZ/IRAN NATIONAL AIDS RESEARCH CENTER, ON CAMERA: Young people they have gotten more information about AIDS and then they are afraid about this disease, so then they come.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
Iran is a place far more complex than the political maelstrom currently swirling around it. But at this moment the politics can’t be ignored, like the growing international crisis over Iran’s decision to restart its nuclear research program, which it says is peaceful – just for nuclear power – but which the West fears could lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

KAZEM JALALI/IRANIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, ON CAMERA:
(Voice of translator) Our only intended use of atomic energy is a peaceful one ... The Europeans' concern is that of security. That can be resolved by a consistent inspection and monitoring of our facilities by the [International Atomic Energy] agency’s specialists.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
There's also the remarks by the newly electioned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad questioning the Holocaust and calling for

There is no doubt that anti-Western feelings are still strong here, especially amongst religious conservatives. But there is also a growing voice of dissent -- young people chafing for more freedom and not afraid to show it.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT, AIDIN, ON CAMERA: Youngsters cannot meddle in politics problems, but I would like to be in politics.

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA: You want your voice to be heard.

AIDIN ON CAMERA: Yes.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
With Iran’s recent ban on the performance of Western music, this is one of the few places Amir Tehrani and his band “Mine” can play their heavy metal songs – in his bedroom.

But in the rock and roll tradition of youthful rebellion, they’ve taken their sound underground to outlawed music clubs.

AMIR TEHRANI/MUSICIAN, ON CAMERA: When we’re playing it’s only the band or five or six guys here, I mean our friends. But in that place we were about 100 and something people and we were not alone. And they were supporting us and we liked it.

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
Others are tired of fighting the power, like this university student named Aidin. He’s joined the green card lottery and wants to go to the United States, though he admits he doesn’t know much about it.

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA:
You say you’re in the lottery because you would like to get a green card to go to America, but what do you know about America? Not much, right?

AIDIN ON CAMERA: Not much, but I very like your country. I like the films. (laughter).

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA: It’s not like the films. (laughter).

KEVIN SITES VOICEOVER:
Few observers feel these grumblings will lead to any kind of political change soon, especially since Iran just elected one of its most hard-line, conservative leaders in decades. But with an estimated 60-percent of the population said to be under thirty, these youthful voices may become increasingly hard to ignore.

KEVIN SITES ON CAMERA:
Iran is at a crossroads with the world over the nuclear issue and over Israel, but also with its own people over basic freedoms and the predominance of Islam over every aspect of life here. Now what path it takes -– whether it continues with the hard line or a more conciliatory approach -- could determine whether it becomes a global power or simply remains a daunting regional one. Reporting from the Hot Zone, I’m Kevin Sites in Tehran, Iran.

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