FOX "Your World" - Transcript

Interview

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MR. CAVUTO: Protest and you will be crushed. Riot police attacking hundreds of demonstrators with teargas in Iran today as the Revolutionary Guard all but threatens those who do protest with death. President Obama sticking to his rather cautious approach throughout all of this, but is he risking being too cautious? Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming says yes.

So Senator, you don't like the stance. Why not?

SEN. BARRASSO: Neil, I think that the president has been too cautious. When he came into office, he wanted to do a diplomatic approach. He offered his open hand, and it was met with a clenched fist. No matter what we do, we are going to be accused of meddling. But the American people are on the side of the Iranian people who are out there fighting for their freedoms. You know, it is a country that has a poor economy, high unemployment, and the people are tired of it. You know, it's an Islamic republic, but the Islamic power that has the money and has the gun and has the oil, I mean, they're the ones that are trying to control what the people want.

And they want to have a republic, they are looking for more of a voice. This goes way beyond the election, Neil. And the president says the whole world is watching. The whole world is watching, not just Iran, but they're watching what the Americans do. And we need to lead.

You look at the videos that you're showing, Neil. That's video that is coming into you, it's coming into America. Because if you're somebody in the middle of this in Iran, you're going to want to get that video, and you're risking your life. You want to get that video to America so people in the free world know exactly what's happening on the ground.

MR. CAVUTO: But don't a lot of those same people who are protesting right now, they're not necessarily huge fans of America. The rap against our country, fairly or not, sir, is that we put the shah in power, and then we had to lead him by his hands out of power. So the U.S. has this reputation among a lot of Iranians for interfering too much. So almost anything the president says could and likely will be used against him, won't it?

SEN. BARRASSO: We'll be accused of meddling no matter what we do. I don't think that there is much hope for any sort of diplomatic relationships with the supreme leader and Ahmadinejad. I opposed him even coming to the United Nations to give his speech. You know, I think our best hope is with the people who are on the streets, because this not only has to do with the nuclear capability of Iran, and we haven't gotten nowhere with this current regime.

MR. CAVUTO: Let me ask you this. If what's happening in Iran takes root throughout the Middle East, and let's say the next country that could experience a sort of democracy wave, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, dominated by, you know, royal families, then might we feel skittish about this democratic movement, even worried about it?

SEN. BARRASSO: Well, you know, when you take a look at where Iran is situated right between Iraq and Afghanistan and the size, I mean, I was in both of those countries at Easter time. There are concerns about Iranian influence coming over to Iraq as U.S. troops pull out, concerns about Iranian influence into Afghanistan as we're very engaged in activities there. But I think democracy is a good thing in terms of the best approach, and that's what the people on the streets are doing right now. They're demonstrating, and they are being oppressed. So I stand against the violence, against the abuse and against what the supreme leader is saying.

You know, he drew a line last week and said, don't cross this line. Well, the people of Iran have clearly crossed the line. There's no going back. Iran is never going to be the same, Neil, even if these people are once again suppressed with military strength.

MR. CAVUTO: Well put. Thank you very much, sir. We appreciate it.

SEN. BARRASSO: Thank you, Neil.

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