These days, the Iranian regime has expanded its tentacles around the world, particularly on the European soil, targeting dissidents. The case of the so-called Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi indicates how Tehran uses embassies to carry out terror attacks.

Assadi was Iran’s third counselor in Vienna. In June 2018, German authorities detained him for involvement in a bomb attack against the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Under diplomatic coverage, he had transferred and delivered 500g of explosive material TATP to his operative team in Luxembourg.

“Assadi told police that armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, as well as in Iran, were interested in the outcome of his case and would be ‘watching from the sidelines to see if Belgium would support them or not,'” according to the minutes obtained by Reuters.

Following the recent development, the NCRI-UK Representative Office hosted a webinar on October 15. Several members of the House of Commons and Lords and Irish politicians attended the event, addressing the Iranian regime’s terrorism as a global threat.

Struan Stevenson

As the webinar moderator, former MEP Struan Stevenson bolded the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s role in terror attacks. “ Iranian regime foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was responsible for a bombing attempt against the Free Iran rally of the NCRI. The conspirators, including Assadollah Assadi, a regime diplomat are now on trial in Belgium,” he said.

Stevenson mentioned two foiled attacks against the NCRI and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Albania and France during the past couple of years. “These are not the only terror plots that bear the fingerprint of Zarif. Another regime terrorist was caught in Denmark, two others were expelled from the Netherlands. They have operated in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Turkey,” he added.

Former MEP also highlighted the role of Iranian embassies as masterminders, coordinators, and providers of logistic supports. “We should close all of Iran’s embassies and expel all their diplomats. Regime leaders should be indicted for crimes against humanity and brought to trial by criminal courts. The EU and UN must stop its appeasement of the mullahs’ regime,” Stevenson concluded.

Dowlat Norouzi

Director of the NCRI UK Office Dowlat Norouzi read the message of the NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi to the event.

“Human rights, freedom, and the desire of the Iranian people for change and the establishment of a republic based on universal suffrage is at the core of the Iranian issue… Ignoring these dimensions runs not only against the interests of the Iranian people, but would also undermine the security of the Middle East, Europe, and the entire world,” the message addressed.

“On top of all this, regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have plundered the national wealth. Every year, they steal tens of billions of dollars from the public’s wealth or they move it abroad. In addition, billions of dollars are spent on warmongering, terrorism, as well as on missile and nuclear programs of the mullahs’ regime.

“Another issue is the spread of COVID-19 in Iran. Today, the most conservative estimates put the death toll at over 125,000. The mullahs do not use the government’s revenues and resources to contain the spread of the disease. In fact, they use this situation to dishearten the people and silence their protests,” the message added.

“Another issue is the spread of COVID-19 in Iran. Today, the most conservative estimates put the death toll at over 125,000. The mullahs do not use the government’s revenues and resources to contain the spread of the disease. In fact, they use this situation to dishearten the people and silence their protests,” Mrs. Rajavi mentioned in her message.

“On behalf of the Iranian Resistance, I call on parliaments in Europe, particularly both legislative chambers in the UK and the parliament of Ireland, to take the lead in adopting a new policy towards Iran:

– Human rights for the people of Iran, 
– A comprehensive embargo against the religious dictatorship, and
– Recognition of the Iranian people’s Resistance for freedom and democracy.

It is essential that Britain, Ireland, and other European countries designate the IRGC as a terrorist group, shut down the regime’s embassies that are centers for terrorist operations, and expel the regime’s agents from European soil,” the NCRI President-elect briefly listed the necessary steps must be taken by European leaders.

Then, Stevenson gave the floor to Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2019-20).

Theresa Villiers

“The mullahs are using terrorism to target Iranian dissidents abroad such as the NCRI. Iran and its IRGC are a threat in many places around the world. It is shocking that the UN arms embargo on Iran is due to expire in just a few days… There is a clear case to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity and the UK must do so. The situation is very grave and the people are suffering greatly,” said Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers.

Toby Perkins

“The regime targets the Iranian Resistance because Maryam Rajavi has a democratic platform for the future of Iran and because NCRI has a crucial role in exposing the regime’s human rights abuses and illicit behavior,” said MP Toby Perkins.

“There must be a coordinated European response to the regime. A necessary step is to designate the regime’s leaders and institutions like IRGC and MOIS as terrorist entities. The UK must abandon the policy of appeasement and back the opposition,” he added.

Bob Blackman

“The reality is, under Rouhani’s tenure, terrorism has increased and human rights have deteriorated in Iran. We must proscribe the IRGC in its entirety as a terrorist organization. The regime’s terrorism has reached Europe and the time to act is now. I urge our government to proscribe the IRGC, implement a pressure policy and encourage our European allies to do so as well,” said MP Bob Blackman.

Sir Alan Meale

“The international community has turned a blind eye to the regime’s terrorism and acquiesced to the regime… The regime continues the rule of terror. Last November, 1,500 protesters were killed by the regime. The regime ordered one of its own diplomats to carry out the bombing of the opposition gathering in Paris. It shows that democratic countries should have nothing to do with this regime,” said Sir Alan Meale.

Anthea McIntyre

“The UK government and other European countries and the European Union must take the regime’s human rights violations seriously, and the terrorism of the regime against Iranian dissidents. The regime’s leaders must be held to account for these atrocities. We must support the Iranian people and their resistance movement for change,” said former MEP Anthea McIntyre.

Steve McCabe

“Iran is the leading sponsor of state terrorism. That’s the problem we’re confronting. The regime does this because first, it is interested in stifling any dissent and making it impossible for people to engage in any form of protests, and second, to spread its evil doctrine across the world and prevent any support for its alternative, the NCRI, said MP Steve McCabe.

“Western governments need to stand up to this and make it clear we’re not going to accept this. Some people make the case for appeasement, but the leopard won’t change its spots. They will interpret any appeasement from Western governments as a sign of weakness,” he added.

Lord Alton

“I’m too well aware of what the regime’s terrorism means for the stability of the region. The regime’s poisonous tentacles reach beyond the region and threaten the security of Europe and European citizens. I welcome the forthcoming trial of the regime diplomat who was involved in a bombing attempt against the NCRI,” said Lord Alton.

Gerry Horkan

“Based on the experience of the last four decades, we know that appeasement toward the regime has been far from effective. The regime’s terrorism in the Middle East and other parts of the world have only become worse. It hasn’t just been unsuccessful but was counterproductive… The regime has been blackmailing the West through threats of carrying out terrorist attacks,” said Irish Senator Gerry Horkan.

“Our policy must go beyond talk and condemnation. There must be action. We must firmly respond to every terrorist act. Its funds must be targeted, its embassies close. Cultural centers and companies funded by the mullahs must be closed. Financial transactions with the IRGC must be blocked. Otherwise, the regime’s terrorism on our soil will escalate,” he added.

Ian Mearns

“The regime is a threat to the entire world with its interference and its support for terrorism. The situation of human rights is alarming. In recent months, we’ve seen further alarming developments with the clampdown on supporters of the PMOI, because the regime fears more protests,” said MP Ian Mearns.

Lord Maginnis

“When we ask questions about the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, we get a puzzled look from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which says they don’t recognize it. That is very disturbing to us who know the truth of that horror,” said Lord Maginnis.

Roger Godsiff

“Terror is the means by which the regime survives and stays in power. It’s how it carries out its policies and counters opposition. The regime’s terror can be traced all over the world. In recent years, the regime is engaging in attacks against its opponents on European soil with no regard to human life,” said MP Roger Godsiff.

John Perry

“Over 450 acts of terrorism by the Iranian regime have been documented by the NCRI since 2001. We also have a long list of hostage-taking operations against foreign nationals,” said former Irish Minister John Perry.

“Let’s get this clear. Regime officials believe they can conduct terrorism on European soil and if they get caught they can get away with more threats. The international community and European countries have failed with their silence and appeasement policy. We must stand against the regime’s terrorism and protect the opposition,” he added.

Gill Furniss

“I have been shocked by repeated human rights violations of the Iranian regime. I condemn all violations of human rights. The UK and its allies have an obligation to protect human rights around the world, including the release of political prisoners in Iran,” said MP Gill Furniss. 

Mousa Zahed

“The regime’s embassy is engaged in planting bombs and plotting terror attacks. The message of appeasement by European countries has demonstrated to the theocracy that they can assassinate their opponents on European soil with impunity,” said director of Middle East Forum for development Mousa Zahed.

Hossein Abedini

“I am a survivor of one of many terrorist attacks of the regime. I narrowly escaped death when my car was ambushed by so-called Iranian diplomats—terrorists—in Turkey. My liver and lungs were badly damaged in the attack after I was shot, and I have undergone many surgeries since then,” narrated Hossein Abedini, member of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee.

“Forty days after I was attacked, Professor Kazem Rajavi was assassinated by regime diplomats in Geneva. The regime also assassinated NCRI representative Mohammad Hossein Naghdi in Italy a few years later,” he added, mentioning two other terror attacks conducted by Iranian diplomats on European soil.

Mark Williams

“The case of Assadollah Assadi is a chilling reminder of how low the regime will go to shut down the voice of dissent and suppress opponents. The tentacles of Tehran’s regime run deep and must face the united response of the international community. We will not tolerate terrorism on European soil,” said MP Mark Williams.

“We call on the government of the West to prosecute the IRGC and MOIS as terrorist organizations. They are terrorists and must be treated as such. Trade and diplomatic relations must be conditioned on ending terrorism. We must publicly name, shame and report terrorists and terrorism. We cannot be seen to appease terrorists,” he added.

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