Archive for the ‘Iran’ Category

Biden’s Iran Envoy Is Placed on Leave Amid Security Clearance … – The New York Times

The State Department placed President Bidens envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, on unpaid leave on Thursday amid a review of his security clearance.

I have been informed that my security clearance is under review, Mr. Malley said in an email. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave.

The State Department confirmed that Mr. Malley was on leave, but did not provide additional details. Axios and CNN had earlier reported that Mr. Malleys security clearance was being evaluated.

Mr. Malley, a longtime Middle East diplomat and analyst, is well known as an advocate of dialogue between the United States and Iran. As a senior official in the Obama White House, he was instrumental in the negotiation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which limited Tehrans nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief.

President Donald J. Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal, spurring Iran to accelerate its nuclear program. Mr. Malley has spent most of his tenure in the Biden administration trying to resurrect the deal.

After little progress toward restoring the pact, the Biden administration is seeking a far more limited, informal understanding with Tehran to avert potential war and to free several Iranian Americans imprisoned in Iran.

A person familiar with the situation confirmed that Mr. Malley had been placed on unpaid leave Thursday afternoon, following a period of paid leave. It is unclear what prompted that change.

The State Department provided only a one-line statement addressing the matter.

Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is serving as acting special envoy for Iran and leading the departments work in this area, the departments spokesman, Matthew Miller, said in the statement.

Before the news about his leave, some foreign officials had noted that Mr. Malley seemed to be playing a less prominent role in U.S. policy toward Iran in recent months. One congressional official said that Mr. Malley had been conspicuously absent from a mid-May briefing about Iran for members of Congress and that administration officials had implied at the time that he was on leave for personal reasons.

When the Biden administration conducted indirect talks with Iranian officials in Oman this spring, it was the White Houses top Middle East official, Brett McGurk, who played the lead role. Mr. McGurk is viewed as taking a harder line toward Tehran and what might be achievable through negotiations than Mr. Malley.

Talks to restore the nuclear deal led by Mr. Malley collapsed last summer just as officials thought they had made a breakthrough, after what Western officials called new Iranian demands that seemed designed to sabotage the process. Irans demands have included a guarantee that a future U.S. president would not again renege on a nuclear deal as Mr. Trump did; Biden officials say it is impossible to promise that.

The Times reported this month that the United States and Iran were discussing an agreement under which, in part, Washington would release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets for highly restricted humanitarian use.

In return, Iran would agree not to enrich uranium to bomb-grade material a move that the United States has warned would likely trigger military action and take other steps including expanded cooperation with international nuclear inspectors and a promise not to sell ballistic missiles to Russia, Iranian officials have said.

Mr. Malleys Middle East policy experience dates to the Clinton administration, and he served as a senior National Security Council official under President Barack Obama, including as his coordinator for combating the Islamic State terrorist group. During the Trump era, Mr. Malley ran the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit policy organization devoted to global conflict resolution.

Mr. Malley has long been a target of Iran hawks and political opposition figures within Iran who view him as dangerously conciliatory toward the Iranian regime. He has long argued that a strategy of crushing economic and political pressure on Iran is bound to fail and that the United States must establish a productive dialogue with its leaders, however distasteful they may be.

Mr. Malley is a boyhood friend of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken; the two attended the same high school in Paris when their families were living in France.

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Biden's Iran Envoy Is Placed on Leave Amid Security Clearance ... - The New York Times

Snooker trending in Iran thanks to Persian Prince –

A passion for snooker has swept Iran over the past few years, a trend fans attribute largely to the countrys first internationally renowned star Hossein Vafaei, known as the Persian Prince.

Ever more enthusiasts in the Islamic republic have taken to the cue sport played on a billiards table, and Tehran last week hosted an Asian regional tournament.

In the past, Iran did not have much of a place in the Asian and world championships in billiards and snooker, Iranian Bowling, Billiard and Boules Federation referee Mohammad Afghil Morshedi said.

Yet in recent years, the sport invented by British officers in colonial-era India has gained many enthusiasts ... and now we are among the top three teams in Asia in winning titles and medals, Morshedi said.

Much of this is due to one man.

Mr Vafaei is the brand of this sport in Iran, Morshedi said. Whenever the name of Iran is brought up in snooker, his name will come up too.

Vafaei, 28, is Irans first professional snooker player, and the first to win a world ranking title, last year in Leicester, England.

Im happy to make history for my country, that was a very good moment for me and snooker, he said at the time.

Vafaei, who hails from Abadan in the southwestern province of Khuzestan bordering Iraq, said in an interview last week with the Islamic Republic News Agency that Iran has very little snooker history.

He said that he has received little official support in his home country, adding that no one has done anything for me, and I have not received any money or reward.

Most of our athletes have the same problem, he added.

Nonetheless, he has received huge gratitude from Irans snooker and billiards enthusiasts.

Reaching the position that Vafaei has attained is the ultimate goal of almost all Iranian snooker players, federation employee Shirin Zarrin said.

He has been very impactful, she said. If you ask any Iranian snooker player, they will cite Vafaei as their role model.

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Snooker trending in Iran thanks to Persian Prince -

Iran News in Brief July 2, 2023 – NCRI – National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

UPDATE: 8:00 PM CET

Thousands of supporters of the worlds biggest exiled Iranian dissident group rallied inFranceover the weekend, calling for the overthrow ofIrans theocratic regime at an event that drew support from high-level international figures such as former Vice President Mike Pence.

[The] Iranian regime has never been weaker than it is today, Mr. Pence, a 2024 presidential hopeful, told a conference that occurred in coordination with the rally, which was orchestrated by the National Council of Resistance ofIranand its associate group, the exiled Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (MEK).

No oppressive regime can last forever, said Mr. Pence, whose remarks dovetailed with those of other prominent Western figures, including former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, former Canadian Premier Stephen Harper, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Guy Verhofstadt, a Belgian ex-prime minister and prominent member of the European Parliament.

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UPDATE: 4:00 PM CET

On Saturday, hundreds of officials and dignitaries from across the world gathered on the outskirts of Paris to attend the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)s Free Iran 2023 World Summit and voice support for the organizations efforts in support of a free Iran.itled Onward to a Democratic Republic, the convention, which took place at the NCRI headquarters in Auvers-sur-Oise, north of Paris, featured an array of prominent figures, legislators, former world leaders, and government officials from the US, Europe, and the Middle East.

Speakers included NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, former US Vice President Mike Pence, British ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss, former US national security advisors John Bolton and General James Jones, former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman, President Donald Trumps secretary of state Mike Pompeo, former NATO Commander General Wesley Clark, former Canadian premier Stephen Harper, and Republican Congressman Lance Gooden from Texas, among over 500 other high-profile personalities.

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UPDATE: 1:30 PM CET

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UPDATE: 10:00 AM CET

NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavis speech at the Free Iran Global Summit 2023:Fellow compatriots! Men and women, who have come from around the world to participate in this rally. Today, you are witnesses to the victory of justice for theIranian Resistanceand, at the same time, herald the decisive defeat of religious fascism in Iran and the victory of freedom in Iran, a FREE IRAN!

Dear compatriots, I am speaking to you from the former home of the Iranian Resistance, whereMassoud [Rajavi] arrived amidst the intense heat of the summer in 1981. My salutes to all of you!To the disenchanted people in the towns and villages of Iran who are listening to my voice.

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FormerVice President Pence called on the Biden administration to immediately cease and desist negotiations with Tehran over Irans nuclear program. Pence addressed Iranian opposition leaders Saturday at the Free Iran World Summit 2023 in riot-torn Paris, France, where he argued that President Biden has appeased the tyrannical regime in Iran. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of Iranian ex-patriots, the 2024 GOP hopeful denounced pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran amid reports that the Biden administration has an interim agreement on the table which the administration has denied.

Today, as an ordinary American citizen, I call upon the Biden administration, and leaders of all freedom-loving nations, to stand with the people of Iran, to stand up for the cause of freedom and justice and to cease and desist all nuclear negotiations with Tehran immediately,Pence said.

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Agents of the Iranian regime are putting immense pressure on Canadian civil servants, and often succeeding at influencing them, according to former interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen.Bergen, who recently stepped down as member of parliament in PortageLisgar, told a group of Iranian dissidents that so-called Iranian diplomats have cultivated relationships with Canadian bureaucrats.

Bergen was speaking on a disinformation panel at the National Council of Resistance of Irans Free Iran conference in Paris.

Other members of the Canadian delegation include former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, former Conservative cabinet ministers John Baird and Tony Clement, retired Liberal MP Wayne Easter and sitting Liberal MP Judy Sgro.

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Paris, July 1, 2023 Distinguished international leaders and lawmakers are currently convening at the Headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Auvers-sur-Oise. Concurrently, a large gathering of Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance is taking place in Paris, as they unite to demonstrate their unwavering support for the NCRIs strategic plan for regime change in Iran, aiming to establish freedom and democracy in the country.

The Iran World Summit, along with the Free Iran Rally 2023, will showcase prominent speakers who will address key topics such as the ongoing uprising in Iran, the threats posed by the existing regime, the viable alternative, and the imperative of adopting the right policies to foster a prosperous future for Iran.

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Distinguished politicians and national security experts from both sides of the Atlantic are converging at a significant conference in Paris on June 30. The event centers around the pressing issue of the popular uprising in Iran and the need for analternative and effective Western policy vis--vis the regime.Set against a backdrop of nationwide uprisings that have disrupted the power dynamics between the Iranian people and the state, these demonstrations have provided valuable insights into the aspirations of the majority of Iranians. Consequently, the international community now has a better understanding of their desires. However, in response to this perceived threat to its survival, the clerical regime has embarked on a complex and multifaceted disinformation campaign. This campaign aims to create the illusion of successfully crushing dissent both domestically and abroad.

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A conference was held on June 30 in Paris, focusing on the Iranian Peoples Uprising for a Democratic Republic. Distinguished speakers from various European parliaments gathered to discuss this important topic. The event, organized by Friends of a Free Iran in several European nations, provided a platform for panelists who collectively represented millions of European constituents. They shared their perspectives on how to support the Iranian people in their quest for regime change and the realization of their aspirations for freedom and democracy.

The conference attracted the participation of Members of Parliament (MPs) from a wide range of countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, the Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, San Marino, Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Kosovo, Belgium, Moldova, Malta, Estonia, and Iceland.

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Iran News in Brief July 2, 2023 - NCRI - National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

Free Iran World Summit 2023-Dempcratic Republic in Iran … – National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

Free Iran 2023-Day 2

On July 2nd, subsequent to the Free Iran Global Summit 2023 on Saturday, the National Council of Resistance of Iran will convene its second consecutive meeting at its Headquarters in Auvers-sur-Oise. Esteemed participants, including former leaders and legislators from Asian, African, and European nations, are gathering to deliberate upon several critical subjects. These include the recent uprisings in Iran, the regimes various machinations aimed at impeding the progress of the imminent revolution, the identification of a viable alternative to replace the current terrorist regime, and the formulation of appropriate policies to address the intricate multilateral challenges the regime is posing to the world today.

Distinguished delegations and prominent statesmen from a range of countries, such as Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Egypt, Morocco, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Ireland, Malta, and Italy, among others, will actively participate in the Free Iran Global Summit II. Their contributions will entail delivering speeches on the aforementioned topics of significance.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the NCRI

As we convene on the second day of theFree Iransummit, we stand strong amidst a tempest of subterfuge and schemes set forth by Khameneis regime. This meeting is a testament to a deep-seated truth of our era. Despite the mullahs desperate efforts, they are now unable to further their policies or maintain their grip on power. Undoubtedly, the mullahs overthrow is within our reach, and the final victory will indeed belong to the Iranian people and the Resistance.

Yesterday, the remarkable participation and immense efforts of supporters of theIranian Resistance, PMOI members, members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, representatives from various parliaments worldwide, and prominent political figures, came together to convene the Free Iran World Summit and a rally simultaneously taking place in Paris, leaving a profound impression on the global stage.

This campaign successfully overcame numerous obstacles and formidable barriers. It triumphed over the conspiracies and acts of sabotage carried out by the clerical regime, its accommodators, and collaborators, emerging victorious. It was a magnificent show highlighting the integrity, credibility, legitimacy, and the power of the Iranian Resistance, which stands taller, more prepared, and more determined than ever.

Yesterday, I witnessed extraordinary scenes from the heart of Paris to various gatherings of freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance. At the same time, I received numerous messages from inside Iran that expressed the intense emotions evoked among our compatriots.

Velayat-e Faqih, embodying absolute malevolence for people in the region and acting as a fearsome instigator ofterrorism and warmongeringagainst the world, is destined to be overthrown, like an arrow set on the trajectory of history. No force can halt this inevitable downfall.

Today, religious despotism finds itself mired in a litany of setbacks and dead ends. From a crumbling economy to internal disputes within the government, a steady stream of departures from the IRGC and Basij, and the nuclear case, the regime is confronted with manifold challenges. Above all, however, its enduring nightmare is the unyielding surge of revolution, which entraps it in a cycle ofpopular uprisings.

This revolution takes shape through the promotion of a democratic alternative. It manifests in the organized mobilization of defiant and rebellious youth, in the strikes of the Resistance Units on IRGC command centers, and in the ongoing uprising of the people.

Suppression remains the sole instrument and defense strategy of the Velayat-e Faqih regime. However, even this has hit a wall. In the aftermath of the massive unrest of December 2017-January 2018, the regime massacred at least 1,500 youths during theNovember 2019 uprising. Yet, these brutalities only fanned the flames of resistance and highlighted the legitimacy of the revolutionary solution.

For two years, the clerical regime exploited a human shield of 550,000 compatriots who tragically perished during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the uprisings reignited in the summer of 2022. The regime responded by murdering at least 750, arresting over 30,000 people, and stepping up executions, which only served to heighten public indignation.

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Ahmad Kamel, Renowned Journalist

Every moment that this regime remains at the helm of power in Iran means more blood in Iran and in several countries. Thank you to Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, who said in eloquent Arabic what the poet of the Arabs said, if one day the people wanted life, then fate must respond, the night must clear, and the shackles must be broken. Therefore, today we have a large number of people who have been overwhelmed by the tyranny of the mullahs regime. The mullahs regime is a great danger to the lives of Iranians, and it is a danger to the lives of the people of the region and the world. Tens of years have proven that coexistence with this regime is not possible. There is no life for the people of Iran and Irans neighbors except with the fall of this regime.

Dr. Eeid Alnaemat, Member of the Parliament of Jordan

The international community must engage in honest policy and work hard for peace and human values. Maintaining peace requires actual politics. Many people in the region are facing catastrophes and wars and violence caused by militias. Fear and war have become the destiny of the people of the Middle East. Geography has been cursed.

The regime is trying to impose its politics in the Gulf region. It is causing problems for the countries of the region through its misuse of Islam. It is killing its own people and attacking its neighbors. In Jordan, we are facing the drug trade carried out by the Iranian regime. We have a lot of work to finish this regime.

We stand with those protesting in the streets of Iran. Iran needs a leadership that believes in Islam and respects human rights and believes in a democratic republic that is at peace with its neighbors. This is what Madam Rajavis Ten-Point Plan stands for.

The Iranian regime is a danger to the Middle East. It is pushing the international community for its own benefit. The future of the Middle East is part of the future of the world. We must act.

Dr. Asma Ravaheneh, Head of the National Coalition Faction in the parliament of Jordan

Madam Rajavi has touched the hearts of every person who believes in this cause. The world is aware of what freedom means to people. It opens the door to peace. It makes the world a better place. My dear sister, you have become an icon for freedom and for women who want to achieve democracy. You gave everything to what you believe in.

You have overcome so many obstacles and this is what has made you an icon of determination. And today, you are known as a woman who is loyal to her people and makes sacrifices for them. This is what makes you a leader.

Today, we are in a world that is filled with troubles. Women are the first victims. We ask all women in the world to stand with us in this cause. Allow me to give my respect to you and our sisters in Ashraf 3. We salute the women in Palestine, Syria, and Iraq, all of whom have been affected by the destructive actions of the regime.

Jordan has faced the violence of the regime, which is sending drugs to our country. Our security forces are trying to stop this, but this is hurting us, just as it is happening in Lebanon. The regime is causing the collapse of the countries of the region.

Sihem Badi, Former Minister for Womens Affairs from Tunisia

We are here to defend our right to life, we are among the fighters for freedom. We are fighting against any dictatorship that is trying to occupy our countries. We are here to defend our freedom of expression. Im here with you so that Iran can regain its freedom and choose your destiny and the destiny of your country.

I stand with those who want to have their voices heard without fear of being imprisoned or persecuted. I add my voice to that of another woman who has stood against the regime and has become a rock against all rumors that try to portray Iran as a dark place. This is a woman that is capable and shines. Madam Rajavi is the best example of this.

This country has a deep civilization and a history of art and culture. As a woman who has participated in political life, I say hope is born from pain and suffering. I spent 18 years in exile and today I have become a minister in my country. We have the right to dream to see you again in Iran and help you in building it to realize the dreams of the martyrs. You are not only realizing the dream of the martyrs, but you also have a duty because youre in a free country, you have the ability to express and resist. You must continue your efforts to build a new Iran.

Fada Hourani-Political activist from Syria

All the suffering by Syrians at the hands of the Assad regime is caused by the backward religious system of Iran. Millions of Syrians are under the aggression of the Syrian regime. They are calling for dignity. This revolution is not a civil war. The revolution is committed to values.

The sectarian wars trying to be linked to the revolution are caused by the regime. The revolution in Iran and Syria will have a common future: the salvation of both people. The common interests of the people are much larger than the hatred caused by the regime.

Syria cannot be ruled by an authoritarian regime. Iran also doesnt have to choose between two dictatorships: a return to the shah or the rule of the mullahs. The regime wastes resources to cause destruction in Syria. It is supporting the Syrian regime with weapons and chemical bombs and militias.

I believe that Iran moving toward democracy will also undermine the authoritarian regimes in other countries. The path to democracy in Iran is not only important for Iran but also for the entire region. This is why everyone needs to support the Ten-Point Plan of Madam Rajavi for the future of Iran.

Kak Baba Sheikh Hosseini, Secretary General of the Iranian Kurdistans Khebat Organization

For many years, the authoritarian regimes of Iran have inflicted pain on the people of Iran. During Pahlavis era, the wealth of the people was squandered and poverty reached new levels. Minorities were under double pressure. This is why all Iranians came to the streets to overthrow the Shah regime. They hoped that tyranny would end by overthrowing the Shah regime. Unfortunately, the revolution was hijacked by Khomeini and other criminal mullahs. Religious fascism was imposed on the Iranian people.

In the past 45 years, the regime has put the people under immense pressure and tyranny. The people of Kurdistan are under even more oppression than they had been during the Shah dictatorship. The struggle of the people of Kurdistan joins that of all the people of Iran to overthrow this regime.

In recent months, the streets of Kurdistan have seen continuous protests after the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini by the so-called morality police. These protests quickly spread across Iran and all Iranians from all backgrounds and geographical regions joined their voice to express their desire to overthrow the regime.

This revolution exposed the regimes weaknesses and showed the unity of the Iranian people. The Khebat Organization is a national organization founded by Mamusta Jalal Hosseini. He and other Khebat members fought against the Shah regime and they continue their struggle against the mullahs regime. We condemn any links to the Shah regime. The Khebat Organization has played an important role in the struggles of the Iranian people. Hundreds of its members have sacrificed their lives for freedom. We have a principled vision for the future of Iran, and that is why we are allies of the MEK and NCRI. The plan of the NCRI for the autonomy of Kurdistan and the freedom of Iran is fully supported by our organization.

Makfouleh Akat, Advisor to the President and former Minister of Culture from Mauritania

I salute the women of Iran who are leading the revolution for establishing a democratic state. I also salute Mrs. Maryam Rajavi who has made so many sacrifices and is organizing this resistance against the regime.

Maryam Rajavi is the top woman leader in the Middle East. I support her determination and resistance.

There will be a success as long as there are people fighting for this cause and who are loyal to this cause. Lets support the freedom of our societies from oppression.

Abolsalam Hormeh, head of Assawab Faction in the Parliament of Mauritania

Your rally demonstrates international support for your cause. It shows how deeply and strongly the people of Iran are supported in their struggle to overthrow the mullahs regime. Arab countries are under the most pressure from the regime. They are the first targets for the regimes oppression and the export of its ideology. I believe Arabs should work more toward having a new Iran and working on our shared values, a new Iran that does not want to expand sectarian clashes that began after Khomeini took power.

The Iranian resistance has been fighting for four decades to get rid of the mullahs regime that exports terrorism. Iran is in a revolution that continues despite the oppression of the regime. The continuity of the revolution against this regime is a turning point. We see the regime attacking every corner of Iran. The only option is to get rid of the regime once and for all.

As a member of the Mauritanian parliament, I oppose justifying silence and I support the Iranian Resistance. We have suffered oppression and we should be the first to stand against the regime in Iran. This is worse than the apartheid regime in South Africa.

I also condemn European complacency and giving in to the blackmailing of the regime. This is a shame.

Ahmad Almosaybli, Advisor to the Culture Minister from Yemen

We represent millions of Yemeni people who have been violated by the regime of Khamenei and Raisi. Madam Rajavi, I have always said that you are not only for the Iranian people. You are also fighting for all the oppressed people of the region, in Yemen, Syria, and other countries.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, everyone here is a free person. Everyone who supports the uprising, I salute them. The people of Yemen support you, the people of Lebanon and Iraq support you. In any area where Khameneis weapons are firing, the people support you.

The world has changed. The head of the snake is in Tehran. We must cut off that head so the rest of the world survives. Khamenei destroyed Yemen. We want to tell everyone who may not know it, Yemen has been destroyed, streets, schools, and mosques. Thousands have been arrested and tortured. The Khamenei regime is doing this through its proxies. But Khamenei failed in Yemen. But our struggle is not finished. We must support the Iranian people in their struggle.

We are stronger when we stand with you. All countries of the region will be free soon. I support the Ten-Point Plan but we need you to also help liberate our countries from the Khamenei regime. Please add that to your plan.

Abdolvahab Moavazeh, Member of the Parliament, Chair of the Human Rights Commission from Yemen

The people of Iran have been suffering for more than 40 years at the hands of this extremist regime. The regime has been using the peoples money to fund its proxies in the region. We hope that everything good will take place from now on just as in the revolution of 1979.

We listened to other speakers and heard them condemn the Iranian regime. We hope decision-makers in these countries listen to us. In Yemen, the army reached Sanaa in 2015 but Americans drew a red line. In 2018 we reached Hodeida City, the stronghold of the Houthis. But a statement from Stockholm prevented us from liberating this city.

We heard from Western speakers that they might not have understood the dangers of Iranian weapons until they were used in Ukraine. But these weapons have been used in our countries for many years. These double standards must stop.

All Arab countries that have suffered at the hands of the Iranian regime must prepare to liberate themselves from this threat. The West keeps saying countering terrorism is a must, but when they see terrorism by the regime, they do nothing.

If you follow the crimes committed by the extremist regime of Iran in the countries of the region, all these countries are victims. In Yemen, the Houthi militias destroyed the social fabric. Children and women were thrown in jail. Human rights were violated. They bombed industrial complexes and refugee camps. According to UN reports, more than 370,000 were killed by the Houthi groups. The Iranian regime sent experts from the IRGC and Hezbollah in the war against the Yemeni people.

The regime is supplying the Houthis with drones to attack the Yemeni people. This would not have happened if Iran was ruled by the people, not the terrorist government. The Iranian uprising is now entering its tenth month with hundreds of martyrs and thousands of arrested.

We support the MEK and the Iranian opposition. We believe that the Ten-Point Plan of Maryam Rajavi is a strong proposition that will solve many problems in Iran. We are determined to get rid of the Houthis. We also approve that the Iranian people will get rid of the mullahs regime, which has nothing to do with Islam.

Dr. Abde Saeed Mohsen Al-Moghlas, Secretary General of the Senate of Yemen

I bring to you the pain of the people of Yemen. We only want to live together in peace and happiness. This gathering has made Iran a sun for civilization again. It has given Muslim women the place that God has given to them. You are a guardian.

I bring the support of the parliament and the Yemeni people for your resistance against the mullahs regime that has made our countries and people enter absurd wars. We support the NCRI and its president Maryam Rajavi. We are in the same battle against the mullahs regime.

We stand together against the extremism of the Iranian regime which has held the people hostage and is supporting the Houthis against the Yemeni people. We see the Iranian regime has supported the Houthis in their coup detat against Yemeni legitimacy. They triggered a war. The Houthis have taken their orders from Tehran and destroyed Yemen.

Kids as young as 15 were recruited as child soldiers. They committed so many crimes. They tried to starve people by stopping food supplies.

Our problem with the Iranian regime is the same problem that the world had with Hitlers Nazism and fascism. Britain tried to appease the Nazis and the entire world paid the price. The Houthis are facing international silence despite their crimes. This is why your victory is important and is also the victory of the Yemeni people.

Dorien Rookmaker, MEP from Netherland

Maryam Rajavi is the hope for Iran, the hope for the Middle East, and the hope for the world. One member of the Yemeni delegation spoke about Europeans not being aware of the crimes of the regime. I apologize that I wasnt aware until this week. European politicians mostly have good heart. As Maryam Rajavi states in her Ten-Point Plan, it is more important to see each other as humans instead of men, women, Muslims, and Christians. It is important what you do, and Maryam Rajavi is a good example. And the people here must be very proud to have such a good leader because good leaders are rare. It takes courage, wisdom, and love. And when we met in European Parliament, I decided that I had met the true leader of Iran.

We live in an age where there is a lot of false news going around. Its hard, to tell the truth from falsehoods. A lot of people will claim they are the true opposition. For me, it was a bit difficult to understand which opposition in Iran to support. Human rights are very important. Then I saw ladies from the opposition who supported Maryam Rajavi and they explained to me why it is important to support this movement. Many people from the Iranian regime approached me and tried to convince me that Mrs. Rajavi is not the true opposition. But I made a decision and I will stick to it. And I hope you will too.

I want to thank you for being here and tell the people who are watching this, if you approach people who dont know about the situation in Iran, be patient and polite. In time, the truth will prevail, because it always does.

Im sure that the regime in Iran will vanish in thin air. It is a religious fascist regime, and it will not stay.

Alyona Shkrum, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine

Last night, eight Iranian drones attacked Kyiv. They injured one man. This was a calm night because there were only eight drones. We didnt know much about Iran and didnt understand why the regime is giving those drones to Russia to kill us. In May, Iran sent 300 drones to Russia, this is the same month it carried out 140 executions.

More than 1,000 drones were used in Ukraine so far. The regime kills its own people, it kills people in the Middle East, and even in Ukraine. Five months ago, my parents were staying in their small house near the capital of Ukraine, in a rural area and they have seen a black Iranian drone on top of their heads and there was nothing I could do. There was nothing they could do. They could only hide.

And unfortunately, Ukrainians know too well that this is happening 3000 kilometers away from Iran because the terrorist and dictatorship regime knows no borders and knows no distance, and knows no mercy. And they must be stopped by all of us, by all the efforts of following the international community, because they threaten everybody. Ukrainians know very well that appeasement never works for terrorists and dictatorship regimes. The only weakness, our weakness, provokes more evil and provokes more tyranny, and provokes more violence.

And unfortunately, a lot of us know a lot of examples of that. Appeasement never worked with Hitler during the Second World War. It did not work with Putin. It is not working with the Iranian regime and will not work.

I speak here and Im very honored to do that on behalf of 10s of millions of Ukrainians who stand for a free and democratic Iran. And also, Im allowed to speak on behalf of Ukrainian girls and women who are incredibly inspired by Iranian women in your fight. You are such an inspiration to us. Keep on fighting, keep on fighting for freedom. You know we follow you. We stand with you, and we will do whatever it takes to help you.

And your fight for freedom is on the way and it is going on for too long. Thats why you need to win fast and you need to win for good, for everybody, for all of us.

Ukraine has already introduced sanctions on Iran. But I know that we can do more, and I will be coming back to Kyiv, to my parliament, with very, very concrete tasks. We will fight for more sanctions because we believe that the population of Iran deserves to live in a free society, in a free, democratic country.

Sen. Gerry Horkan, Member of the Irish Senate and deputy chair of the Financial Committee

I think everybody here would agree that Iran will be one of the countries we must watch closely in the coming months, given its history and importance for the Middle East and the future progress of not just the region but indeed the world.

The continuing popular push to make Iran freer and more democratic is an encouraging step and welcoming development. When, not if the Iranian people are successful to establish a democratic Republic, the world will breathe a sigh of relief and start to think seriously about building friendship and real cooperation for the benefit of Iran, the region, and the world.

As many of my colleagues and distinguished speakers have explained, both today and since Friday, the people of Iran have the tools in the Resistance Units, the platform, and your Ten-Point plan, which weve heard so much about, and a viable alternative in the NCRI to succeed.

The EU must designate the IRGC. It should add more Iranian names to its sanctions list and, above all, the EU must take concrete steps at the international level, including the UN, to end the culture of impunity in Iran, and to do this, the regime must be referred to the UN Security Council.

As we support Ukraine against evil Russia we must also support the NCRI and the Iranian people as they strive to liberate their country from the mullahs.

Ruba Habboush, Vice-president of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC)

The danger of the mullahs regime is first to the Iranian people, politically, socially, and economically. It kills them in front of the eyes of the entire world. The world is not taking action. And theyre doing the same thing in Syria. Theyre not taking action to stop the crimes of the regime.

The terror of Iran and Russia has not been stopped. Irans regime supports the Syrian regime, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and sectarian militias in Iraq.

I am from Idlib, Syria. More than one million people have been martyred in Idlib. All this with the help of the Iranian regime, which does not stop in Syria and Iraq, and Yemen. It spreads everywhere. It starts with soft expansion and then transitions to military occupation.

We should take serious steps to stop the Iranian regime. Any attempt to appease the regime will only cause more destruction and war. We must respect the Iranian revolution, with women at the forefront. They have paid dearly for their struggle for freedom. Criminal regimes will disappear. I hope we will soon celebrate the fall of Irans regime in Tehran.

Barkat Ojan, former Minister of Culture from Jordan

We spoke about the transgressions of the regime, but not enough about what it is doing in Iraq and Yemen, and Palestine. What is happening in Ukraine is recent, but what is happening in the region has been going on for years.

Western governments handed Iraq to the mullahs. These meetings have a huge benefit. They document what is happening. I believe that culture is important in creating a democratic world. This meeting will help create a better future for the Iranian people.

I ask that we share our principles. We must talk about how the world is witnessing changes. What is happening in the Middle East is sad. Were suffering from a lack of democracy. Political oppression is applied to journalists and politicians and all citizens who want to speak. These conferences are the voice of those people.

One of the most political issues we face is Irans regime. It is facing so many challenges. Iranians seek a better future. What Madam Rajavi is doing today is a hope that the future will be bright. The entire world should stand on the same front and dont remain silent in the face of human rights violations. What happens in Iran needs our attention, this includes the nuclear program and its interference in the region. These are important for all of us.

Razi Nurullayev, Member of the Parliament of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is one of the countries that suffered from terrorist attacks. In January, the Azerbaijan embassy in Iran was attacked, in which one person was killed. Since then, our embassy has been closed. In March, one of my colleagues in the Azerbaijan parliament who supports free Iran faced an attack. He survived but his wounds will not heal until we see a free and democratic Iran.

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Free Iran World Summit 2023-Dempcratic Republic in Iran ... - National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

Iran puts off dispatching ambassador to Sweden over Quran … – Tehran Times

TEHRAN Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian announced on Sunday that Tehran has decided to put off dispatching its newly-appointed ambassador to Sweden over the Scandinavian countrys controversial move of allowing sacrilege to the holy Quran.

Iran has recently appointed a new ambassador to Sweden and all the procedures for the new ambassador have been done. The ambassador, Hojjatullah Faghani, met Amir Abdollahian on Saturday.

Yesterday, we talked in detail with my colleague Mr. Hojjatullah Faghani, the new ambassador of our country to Sweden, and he also presented a report on the latest status of his mission, the foreign minister said on Twitter.

Despite the completion of the administrative procedures, the process of dispatching the ambassador to Sweden has been stopped due to the action of the government of this country in issuing permits for the desecration of the holy Quran, he added.

Iran has protested the Swedish move. The charg daffaires of the Swedish embassy in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Director General of the Western Europe Department, in the absence of the countrys ambassador.

The official condemned the recent insult in Sweden against the most important Islamic sanctities, saying the Swedish governments silence and passive behavior embolden violators of one of the basic and obvious principles of human rights, namely the principle of respect for religious and divine values, according to the foreign ministry.

While Muslims have been performing Hajj and honoring religious and Islamic rituals these days, insulting their sanctities solely serves to spread hatred and call for violence by abusing the principle of freedom of speech, the Swedish diplomat was told.

He added that such an ill-considered move was nothing new on Swedish soil, and that the Iranian side had previously relayed its dissatisfaction to Sweden.

If Sweden had taken action to stop such insults in time, no more desecration of Islamic sanctities would have taken place, the Iranian official said.

He added that the Islamic Republic, along with the entire Islamic world, does not tolerate any attack on the holy book of the Muslims or any greenlight for such moves, therefore, the Swedish government is expected to fulfill its most obvious duty in preventing insults to the spiritual and religious values of Muslims responsibly and in an effective and preemptive manner.

In response, the Swedish charg daffaires emphasized the Swedish governments opposition to any form of Islamophobia, and stated that he would convey the protest to Stockholm as soon as possible.

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Iran puts off dispatching ambassador to Sweden over Quran ... - Tehran Times