Bipartisan European and American lawmakers gathered for a virtual conference on Friday, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and called for a firm policy on Iran.
The “Trans-Atlantic Summit on Iran Policy” featured speakers such as US Senators Ted Cruz and Kristen Gillibrand, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, current House member Sheila Jackson Lee, and Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
The rare bipartisan unity shows that support for the Iranian Resistance and more pressure on the regime is universal, with the timing being particularly poignant following the execution of protester and wrestler Navid Afkari last week.
Summary of Repression and Human Rights Violations in Iran – July 2020
Afkari was falsely convicted of murder but his “confessions” were made under torture and later retracted. There was an international campaign, joined by human rights groups, politicians, and sporting organizations, to save his life, but the regime released more propaganda against him to justify his death.
Regime opponents, like former U.S. Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, use all of this and more as evidence that the regime is incapable of and unwilling to reform, with many event speakers saying this justified the US “maximum pressure” campaign and calling for a similar strategy in Europe.
The Resistance Units are the true beacons of #freedom. You’ve endured suffering at the hands of the regime for standing up for #democracy and a secular republic. Your sacrifices and your success will inspire the next generation in #Iran—Amb. Robert Josephhttps://t.co/XKsVa0PgUq
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) September 18, 2020
British MP David Jones said: “By adopting a firm policy against the regime, the UK and the US and other Western democracies should align themselves with the people of Iran and [NCRI President Maryam] Rajavi for a viable Iranian made solution.”
#Iran is at a pivotal moment in its history. The people of Iran demand genuine democracy and #IranRegimeChange. The regime responds with repression, execution, and torture. The regime resorts to terrorism against the Iranian opposition— @DavidJonesMP https://t.co/dC3wlNYleA
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) September 18, 2020
Joseph went on to point out that many Western policymakers think that the only options to deal with Iran are appeasement or war, ignoring the fact that the NCRI is the viable alternative to the mullahs’ regime, and that support for them will mean that
He said that this “is a masquerade, a false choice”, citing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between the P5+1 countries, which the US withdrew from in 2018, as an example of how diplomacy failed to move the mullahs to a more moderate path.
While Rudy Giuliani suggested that the firm and assertive actions taken by the regime since 2018 have proved more effective than the appeasement policy pursued before that.
The situation is getting worse in #Iran. They recently executed wrestling champion #NavidAfkari for protesting… #MostafaSalehi was executed for the same charge. The MEK reported that 20 other people are on death row for political charges— @RudyGiuliani https://t.co/u1cAxq6sUc
— IranNewsUpdate (@IranNewsUpdate1) September 18, 2020
Maryam Rajavi said: “Today, the regime is at its weakest point ever. In such circumstances, giving assistance to the mullahs will only increase the pain and suffering of the people of Iran, but of course, would not be able to save the regime from its certain downfall.”
Today, the regime is at its weakest point ever. In such circumstance, giving assistance to the mullahs will only increase the pain and suffering of the people of #Iran, but of course, would not be able to save the regime from its certain downfall. #NoImpunity4Mullahs pic.twitter.com/cLAh2mcHDq
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) September 18, 2020
