On Monday, at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, a conference where the growing terrorist activities of the Iranian regime was discussed, as well as the correct policy for the international community, especially Europe, to take regarding the threats posed by the Iranian regime.
Former European Parliament Vice President Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras moderated the conference. According to Dr. Quadras, terrorist acts coming out of Iran are being coordinated at the highest levels of power within the regime. “However, [EU foreign policy chief Federica] Mogherini and her colleagues are trying to hide this truth,” Quadras said.
“The remarks of Iranian officials and the facts on the ground leave no doubt that we are faced with the rise of Iranian terrorism against Europe. We must protect our countries.”
Quadras also asked several pertinent questions. “…why only a branch of the Intelligence ministry and not all of it has been added to the European terror list. Why hasn’t the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) been sanctioned. Why not the Supreme Leader and the President, who are directly responsible for many of these plots, been sanctioned? Why are Europeans seeking business as usual with the Iranian regime.”
The European Union’s appeasement policy allowing the Iranian regime the to continue its terrorism, according to Quadras, who said, “The EU insists the nuclear deal remains in its security interest. Yet these terror plots have happened after the nuclear deal was forged, which casts doubt over the promised security of the nuclear deal.”
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh also spoke at the conference. “In Europe, we know the historical dangers and consequences of improper appeasement,” he said.
Freeh stressed that the terrorist activity by the Iranian regime is “controlled by the state.” He stressed that, “The constitution of the regime dictates to pursue terrorism against activists and opponents. The regime has a pattern of practice of terrorism to achieve its goal.”
“The U.S. has taken a strong position that you can’t trust the Iranian regime. It could never be trusted because the mullahs ruling the country don’t have the same respect for the rule of law that we all do. If you can’t trust a partner, you can’t do commerce with that partner,” Freeh said. “The regime is trying to murder people in Paris who are peacefully advocating for freedom. There was a plot with Iranian diplomats to blow those people up.”
Freeh also asserted that the Iranian regime continued its terrorist activities in Europe, “The regime will continue to operate that way as long as European capitals tolerate that.” Freeh said of recent EU sanctions against a small subset of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry (MOIS), “When you only sanction a small branch, you’re giving the green light to your adversary to continue terrorist acts and that you’re willing to continue to do business.” Freeh also recommended, “The entire MOIS must be sanctioned.
The IRGC must be sanctioned, as well as leaders and officials. The only thing this regime understands and respects is applied force and sanctions.”
A member of the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Farzin Hashemi, provided details into the regime’s terror network active in Europe.
“The Iranian regime’s MOIS, IRGC and IRGC Quds Force are all involved in the mullahs’ terrorism apparatus. Our latest information from inside the regime relates to the regime’s terror plot against the opposition Iran Freedom rally on June 30th in Paris,” he explained.
“Reza Amiri Moghadam of the MOIS collaborated with Asdollah Assadi, a Vienna-based diplomat, to carry out the operation targeting the major rally. This is a clear example of the coordination of Iran’s different agencies and that decisions are made at the highest ranks of the regime.”
Regarding Albania, where members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) are based, Hashemi described the way the government of this country has adopted strong measures against Tehran. “The prime minister of Albania expelled the Iranian ambassador and chief intelligence officer from his country. Albanian officials explained that the Iranian regime were plotting to bomb a ceremony of the PMOI/MEK. Mohammad Nia, one of the expelled diplomats, was also one of the members of the nuclear negotiations team.”
Hashemi highlighted the closely knit terrorism-decision making network in Tehran. “The MOIS is closely tied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in terrorist activities. Terrorism is institutionalized at the highest levels of the mullahs’ regime, at the Supreme Security Council headed by the President, now being Hassan Rouhani. Afterwards, the decisions are sent to the office of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for approval. Terrorism is part of the regime’s DNA.”
For the future, Hashemi pointed out measures Europe must take to face the Iranian regime’s growing threats. “I think it is time for Europe to take a firm stance vis-a-vis the mullahs’ regime. All officials involved in these decisions must be sanctioned.
They do not represent the Iranian people. They are in fact suppressing the Iranian people at home, while being interlocutors of Mrs. Mogherini,” Hashemi emphasized. “The entirety of the MOIS, the IRGC and all individuals engaged in the acts of terrorism must be blacklisted. The EU should also listen to the Iranian people and put an end to this illusion that there are two different factions in Iran. These terrorism activities are carried out by the entirety of the regime and approved by the Supreme Leader.”
Claude Moniquet, a retired French journalist and a former intelligence agent at the French Directorate-General for External Security has said, “[Iran’s regime] uses terrorism to fuel tensions in the Middle East… This regime has developed a security apparatus that, on the one hand is designed to extend its rule, and on the other, to expand its terrorist ideology abroad.”
The former DST intelligence agent added, “There might be personal rivalries between the mullahs, but where foreign policy is concerned and the use of the diplomatic apparatus for terrorism, regime officials are of a like mind and all decisions are made by the Supreme National Security Council.” Moniquet explained, “There are internal problems in Iran.
he regime needs to eliminate the MEK and NCRI to maintain its hold on power. Because these are the main opposition that can organize protests in Iran.”
