Less than three weeks remaining to the June 30 deadline set for the P5+1 to reach an agreement with Iran in negotiations over its nuclear program, tens of thousands of Iranian exiles from across the globe rallied on June 13 raising their voice in protest to the regime in Iran.
Over 600 prominent international dignitaries from 69 countries joined the gathering in Villepinte near Paris in support of Iranian opposition calling for regime change in Iran. The keynote speaker of this gathering was Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the umbrella opposition body composed of various groups from all walks of life in Iran’s society.
Maryam Rajavi focused her speech on Iran’s clandestine nuclear weapons program, support for extremism and Islamic fundamentalism across the Middle East abroad, flagrant human rights violations and the plight of Iranian dissident refugees in Camp Liberty in Iraq.
“Unfortunately, western governments, the United States in particular, violated UN Security Council resolutions and offered major concessions, propelling the regime closer to the Bomb.” Rajavi said in strong remarks against negotiations with Iran on its nuclear dossier lead by the United States adding,
“I should therefore remind western governments that the Iranian people and Resistance will not accept any agreement that does not dismantle the regime’s bomb-making infrastructure.” She warned the P5+1 leaders saying, “If you do not want a nuclear-armed fundamentalist regime, stop appeasing it. Do not bargain over the human rights of the Iranian people and recognize their organized Resistance, which is striving for freedom.”
Rajavi was joined by prominent figures such as former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, John Bolton, former US ambassador to the UN and Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control, Tom Ridge, former US Secretary of Homeland Security, General Hugh Shelton, former Chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats.
“I will not support a candidate who does not have the moral fiber and the courage to stand up to the ayatollah and tell him we are going to do everything we can to get you out and you will never become a nuclear power. I will make sure every single candidate is asked: are you for regime change in Iran?” Giuliani said, blasting US President Barack Obama’s nuclear policy on Iran and criticizing the course of the nuclear talks in general.
Senator John McCain, Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee, who sent a video message to the gathering, said, “You cause is our cause and your fight is our fight. Today we live in a world of crisis across the Middle East.”
McCain pointed out to the Iranian regime’s meddling in the region, especially in Syria, stressing, “Iran is setting fire to sectarian tensions in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and beyond. Killing thousands and driving millions from their homes, the Iranian regime, the true epicenter of radical Islamic extremism in the world continues to fund terror and incite chaos in its campaign for domination.”
Ambassador John Bolton emphasized that the Iranian Resistance has done more to make the world aware of the clandestine nuclear program of the ayatollahs adding, “Negotiations and sanctions have not slowed down the nuclear weapons program at all nor Iran’s offensive behavior, its aide to Hezbollah, Assad regime, Houthis, or the Baghdad government.
It is critical that the world understand the consequences of what happened. This agreement is fundamentally flawed… This regime has been lying for 35 years. This deal will legitimatize the mullahs’ enrichment program. The real solution to the ayatollahs’ nuclear weapons program is to get rid of the ayatollahs.”
“We in the U.S. Congress will not be satisfied with negotiations that leave in power brutal corrupt tyrants who hold power because of their hold on aggressive and fanatical beliefs.” said Congressman Rohrabacher in his speech, “We will not back away from your cause.”
This rally in Paris, staged annually by the Iranian Resistance, attracted Iranian exiles and supporters of the Iranian resistance from across the globe who joined their voices against the regime in Tehran.
thanks for the formatting. Otherwise I was going to leave the thread.