Stepping off a flight from Buenos Aires yesterday, Iranian Presidential candidate Mir-Housein Mousavi was confronted by a Backburner reporter stationed in Tehran, expatriot Marjorie Farah. The moment was subdued and indeed, most people hustling and bustling through the airport took no notice of the couple as they made their way to a coffee shop for a chat.
Ms. Farah began by asking Mr. Mousavi if he was aware that most Iranians believed that he had been inside his house, possibly under house arrest for the last week.
Mr. Mousavi appeared somewhat suprised by this. He then said, "If my staff misled you or the Iranian people concerning my whereabouts, they will be strongly rebuked by me for the mistake, but I had no intention of hiding my whereabouts. I was initially going to hike the Appalachian trail to work off the stress of a grueling campaign, but had a last minute change of heart and decided instead to enjoy the nightlife of the great capital of Argentina".
Ms. Farah then asked Mr. Mousavi if he had any friends in Buenos Aires, a question which made Mr. Mousavi very angry. He got up and appeared ready to leave, saying, "My personal life is my business and mine alone."
At this point, Ms. Farah produced a copy of an e-mail from Mr. Mousavi to his friend and mistress, one Maria Belen Chapur, an Iranian national now living in Argentina, who had previously served as the social secretary to the deposed Shah of Iran.
Snatching the document out of her hand, Mr. Mousavi snarled, "I'm warning that I won't surrender to this charade."
Told that it was only a copy and that the original was secured in a safe place, Mr. Mousavi's tone changed.
"I understand", he explained, "that I have let a lot of people down."
Told that many people had died in the streets while he was enjoying himself in Buenos Aires, Mousavi at first seemed suprised, then contrite. "My staff should have told me this", he said, "and I will be speaking very strongly to them when we meet".
He has called a press conference for later this afternoon to explain his "indescretion".
