WE SHOULD LISTEN CLOSELY TO IRAN Created: 26 January 2018
Iran
Maryam Rajavi
NCRI
PMOI/MEK
Human rights
Protests
United States
Opinion
JCPOA
Paris
Middle East
Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei (Photo by Supreme Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
By Heshmat Alavi
As the world continues to debate the recent Iranian outburst of protests, its "lack of leadership" as they claim, and the road ahead, there is no doubt in the minds of senior Iranian regime officials over who led, and continues to lead, this latest uprising that continues to rattle the very pillars of the mullahs' rule.Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made his thoughts crystal clear.“The incidents were organized”
and carried out by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), he said although using a different term. “The [MEK] had prepared for this months ago” and “the [MEK’s] media outlets had called for it.”
The MEK is best known for first blowing the whistle on Iran's clandestine nuclear program back in 2002 and raising awareness over the possible military dimension (PMD) of this drive, a subject awaiting full clarification as we speak.
Interesting is how Khamenei's remarks, however, mirror those of influential American figures.
“The resistance is making a difference,” said Newt Gingrich, former House of Representatives Speaker and an individual very close to U.S. President Donald Trump, at a “Regime change in Iran” meeting held recently by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, the sole significant Iranian opposition coalition. The MEK is a member of this umbrella group.
Maryam Rajavi and Newt Gingrich are meeting on January 19, 2018 in the office of NCRI, Auvers sur Oise, north of Paris, France. They support the uprising of the Iranian people for regime change. (Photo by Siavosh Hosseini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The MEK is making a difference. I have no doubt that, in the long run, you are on the right side of history. The resistance is knitting together both in the country and in the world a tremendous force that is sustaining the right to believe that you can be free,” Gingrich added while joined by former Democratic Senator Robert Torricelli.
Their participation marks bipartisan support the NCRI and MEK enjoy in Washington, considered rare these days.
"This is the beginning of a revolution. A regime that stays in power by killing its people has a numbered life. When Rouhani called French President Macron and asked him to clamp down on the MEK it made one thing clear: This is not a revolution without a leader. The leader is sitting here," Senator Torricelli, in reference to NCRI President Maryam Rajavi.
"I agree with Khamenei on nothing except one thing: he is putting responsibility on the MEK and the PMOI and blaming Mrs. Rajavi. He is right about it. This has been organized for years, network has been created, by never compromising with the regime, never being part of it. The MEK and Mrs. Rajavi have kept credibility… So in identifying the MEK and Mrs. Rajavi, he is right because the MEK and the entire international community that supports it, we are all coming for Khamenei to end this nightmare," he added.
Iran's history of uprisings and the 1979 revolution specifically have witnessed their ups and downs. The current movement is undergoing a similar phase today and any argument that this round of protests have come to an end are baseless.
“The uprising showed that Iranian society is in an explosive state, simmering with discontent," Rajavi said in her speech. "It showed that the regime is much weaker than perceived. It showed that the billions of windfall dollars from the nuclear deal did nothing to cure the regime’s instability. And finally, the uprising showed that the people of Iran detest both regime factions and want it overthrown in its entirety.”
Invited by numerous parliamentary groups, Rajavi continued her efforts on Wednesday in the European Parliament by calling on the Green Continent to break its dangerous silence in the face of ongoing protests in Iran and the regime resorting to numerous crackdown measures.
I urge ALDE and PACE to strongly condemn the killing of protesters in prisons. Urge European governments to take practical measures to free the prisoners.#Iran #PACE#CoE #PACEwinter2018pic.twitter.com/Ft1ewNnvHy
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 24, 2018
Khamenei understands the Iranian opposition's threat and wastes no time in pinpointing the main sources of his regime's concerns that is fueling and guiding the recent unrests. For decades West-based pro-Iranian regime lobby have also gone the distance in expressing their utmost abhorrence, especially in regards to the MEK.
A lobelog.com piece – later republished by the iran-interling.org, a site reportedly ran by known agents of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence to demonize the Iranian opposition– reads that rallies staged abroad recently in solidarity with Iranian protesters are "organized by a fringe, cult-like group," referring to the MEK.
In this resort to yellow journalism, the piece fails to mention the fact that no other Iranian coalition or group was able to hold such organized rallies، and refuses to discuss the NCRI campaign calling for international action to pressure Tehran into releasing all political prisoners, especially the recently detained 8,000+ protesters.
The mere fact that such voices literally blow their horns in this regard not only raises eyebrows, it places us before this question of why?
The answer is simple. Iran's regime is facing a major impasse, feeling the growing pressures of internal dissent and international isolation.
In response to Trump's 120-day ultimatum to improve the Iran nuclear deal after waiving sanctions for "the last time," France, Germany and the United Kingdom are discussing measures targeting Iran's ballistic missile program and meddling in countries across the Middle East.
#Germany united with #France & #UK to increase #Iran sanctions #FreeIranhttps://t.co/gu74Nh45QR
— Frances Townsend (@FranTownsend) January 22, 2018
More than ever before, the Iranian people have shown their readiness for democratic change. The time has come for those governments that are pursuing appeasement policies with the Iranian regime to take a new approach.
EU strategy on #IranNuclearDeal: Persuade Trump to keep JCPOA in place, but make implementation conditional to parallel talks aimed at Iran’s missile project, regional interference, & human rights abuses. https://t.co/qIS1OgO4NU
— UANI (@UANI) January 23, 2018
Washington and Europe should lead the global community into providing support for the Iranian people and recognizing the Iranian opposition NCRI in its call for regime change and the election of a representative government.
The Iranian people have spoken and continue to prove their legitimate demand for regime change to welcome a democratic and secular republic. Those countries continuing their appeasement vis-à-vis Tehran should set aside unreliable short-term benefits and begin thinking about their long-term interests.
The French "Pascal Coquis" recently wrote in an editorial piece describing the recent protests as a "volcano."
"When it erupts, it can no longer be contained. The intensity of the fire may decrease, yet it will continue to erupt. Forever."
Khamenei has genuine concerns over the NCRI, being the largest Iranian opposition coalition enjoying sweeping support on both sides of the Atlantic and having rooted connections to a vast network of supporters inside the country. This has provided the necessary tools for the NCRI to become the leading force of regime change with a clear blueprint for a democratic future for Iran.
On this highly imperative subject, we should actually listen to Khamenei's words.
I am a political/rights activist focusing on Iran & the Middle East. I also write in Al Arabiya English, and contributed to The Federalist, The Hill and Raddington Report. I tweet @HeshmatAlavi
Iran
Maryam Rajavi
NCRI
PMOI/MEK
Human rights
Protests
United States
Opinion
JCPOA
Paris
Middle East
Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei (Photo by Supreme Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
By Heshmat Alavi
As the world continues to debate the recent Iranian outburst of protests, its "lack of leadership" as they claim, and the road ahead, there is no doubt in the minds of senior Iranian regime officials over who led, and continues to lead, this latest uprising that continues to rattle the very pillars of the mullahs' rule.Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei made his thoughts crystal clear.“The incidents were organized”
and carried out by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), he said although using a different term. “The [MEK] had prepared for this months ago” and “the [MEK’s] media outlets had called for it.”
The MEK is best known for first blowing the whistle on Iran's clandestine nuclear program back in 2002 and raising awareness over the possible military dimension (PMD) of this drive, a subject awaiting full clarification as we speak.
Interesting is how Khamenei's remarks, however, mirror those of influential American figures.
“The resistance is making a difference,” said Newt Gingrich, former House of Representatives Speaker and an individual very close to U.S. President Donald Trump, at a “Regime change in Iran” meeting held recently by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, the sole significant Iranian opposition coalition. The MEK is a member of this umbrella group.
Maryam Rajavi and Newt Gingrich are meeting on January 19, 2018 in the office of NCRI, Auvers sur Oise, north of Paris, France. They support the uprising of the Iranian people for regime change. (Photo by Siavosh Hosseini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)“The MEK is making a difference. I have no doubt that, in the long run, you are on the right side of history. The resistance is knitting together both in the country and in the world a tremendous force that is sustaining the right to believe that you can be free,” Gingrich added while joined by former Democratic Senator Robert Torricelli.
Their participation marks bipartisan support the NCRI and MEK enjoy in Washington, considered rare these days.
"This is the beginning of a revolution. A regime that stays in power by killing its people has a numbered life. When Rouhani called French President Macron and asked him to clamp down on the MEK it made one thing clear: This is not a revolution without a leader. The leader is sitting here," Senator Torricelli, in reference to NCRI President Maryam Rajavi.
"I agree with Khamenei on nothing except one thing: he is putting responsibility on the MEK and the PMOI and blaming Mrs. Rajavi. He is right about it. This has been organized for years, network has been created, by never compromising with the regime, never being part of it. The MEK and Mrs. Rajavi have kept credibility… So in identifying the MEK and Mrs. Rajavi, he is right because the MEK and the entire international community that supports it, we are all coming for Khamenei to end this nightmare," he added.
Iran's history of uprisings and the 1979 revolution specifically have witnessed their ups and downs. The current movement is undergoing a similar phase today and any argument that this round of protests have come to an end are baseless.
“The uprising showed that Iranian society is in an explosive state, simmering with discontent," Rajavi said in her speech. "It showed that the regime is much weaker than perceived. It showed that the billions of windfall dollars from the nuclear deal did nothing to cure the regime’s instability. And finally, the uprising showed that the people of Iran detest both regime factions and want it overthrown in its entirety.”
Invited by numerous parliamentary groups, Rajavi continued her efforts on Wednesday in the European Parliament by calling on the Green Continent to break its dangerous silence in the face of ongoing protests in Iran and the regime resorting to numerous crackdown measures.
I urge ALDE and PACE to strongly condemn the killing of protesters in prisons. Urge European governments to take practical measures to free the prisoners.#Iran #PACE#CoE #PACEwinter2018pic.twitter.com/Ft1ewNnvHy
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 24, 2018
Khamenei understands the Iranian opposition's threat and wastes no time in pinpointing the main sources of his regime's concerns that is fueling and guiding the recent unrests. For decades West-based pro-Iranian regime lobby have also gone the distance in expressing their utmost abhorrence, especially in regards to the MEK.
A lobelog.com piece – later republished by the iran-interling.org, a site reportedly ran by known agents of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence to demonize the Iranian opposition– reads that rallies staged abroad recently in solidarity with Iranian protesters are "organized by a fringe, cult-like group," referring to the MEK.
In this resort to yellow journalism, the piece fails to mention the fact that no other Iranian coalition or group was able to hold such organized rallies، and refuses to discuss the NCRI campaign calling for international action to pressure Tehran into releasing all political prisoners, especially the recently detained 8,000+ protesters.
The mere fact that such voices literally blow their horns in this regard not only raises eyebrows, it places us before this question of why?
The answer is simple. Iran's regime is facing a major impasse, feeling the growing pressures of internal dissent and international isolation.
In response to Trump's 120-day ultimatum to improve the Iran nuclear deal after waiving sanctions for "the last time," France, Germany and the United Kingdom are discussing measures targeting Iran's ballistic missile program and meddling in countries across the Middle East.
#Germany united with #France & #UK to increase #Iran sanctions #FreeIranhttps://t.co/gu74Nh45QR
— Frances Townsend (@FranTownsend) January 22, 2018
More than ever before, the Iranian people have shown their readiness for democratic change. The time has come for those governments that are pursuing appeasement policies with the Iranian regime to take a new approach.
EU strategy on #IranNuclearDeal: Persuade Trump to keep JCPOA in place, but make implementation conditional to parallel talks aimed at Iran’s missile project, regional interference, & human rights abuses. https://t.co/qIS1OgO4NU
— UANI (@UANI) January 23, 2018
Washington and Europe should lead the global community into providing support for the Iranian people and recognizing the Iranian opposition NCRI in its call for regime change and the election of a representative government.
The Iranian people have spoken and continue to prove their legitimate demand for regime change to welcome a democratic and secular republic. Those countries continuing their appeasement vis-à-vis Tehran should set aside unreliable short-term benefits and begin thinking about their long-term interests.
The French "Pascal Coquis" recently wrote in an editorial piece describing the recent protests as a "volcano."
"When it erupts, it can no longer be contained. The intensity of the fire may decrease, yet it will continue to erupt. Forever."
Khamenei has genuine concerns over the NCRI, being the largest Iranian opposition coalition enjoying sweeping support on both sides of the Atlantic and having rooted connections to a vast network of supporters inside the country. This has provided the necessary tools for the NCRI to become the leading force of regime change with a clear blueprint for a democratic future for Iran.
On this highly imperative subject, we should actually listen to Khamenei's words.
I am a political/rights activist focusing on Iran & the Middle East. I also write in Al Arabiya English, and contributed to The Federalist, The Hill and Raddington Report. I tweet @HeshmatAlavi
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