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Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
Arabnews, 20 August 2017 - There is a need for a more firm approach toward the Iranian government and its increasingly aggressive foreign policy.Tehran is ratcheting up its interference and interventions in Arab countries. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliates are increasing domestic repression as well, according to the latest reports by human rights organizations.
Support for a firm approach against the Iranian political establishment is increasing in the United States. About 30 prominent American luminaries and former officials issued a joint statement expressing bipartisan support for underscoring the need for countering Tehran regime. Among the signatories were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
It is crucial to point out that the Iranian government has been causing regional instability, engaging in egregious human rights violations and exporting terrorism and extremism abroad. The letter scolds the Iranian regime for committing these acts.
The view that the regime can be reformed has been proved to be inaccurate, simplistic and unsophisticated. Former US presidents made efforts to moderate Iran’s foreign policy through engagement, diplomacy or concessions. Nevertheless, as history reveals, these efforts have failed.http://bit.ly/2ipfP63
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
IRAN: AFTER THE JCPOA, THE AMOUNT OF IRAN'S FOREIGN DEBTS?
Monday, August 21, 2017
Sunday, August 20, 2017
CALL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE 1988 MASSACRE OF 30,000 POLITICAL PRISONERS IN IRAN
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Human rights, in particular, bringing to justice the officials involved in the 1988 massacre, should be at the core of Iran policyHuman rights defenders, dignitaries, European politicians and the Iranian Resistance called for the formation of an international commission of inquiry into the massacre of political prisoners in Iran in the summer of 1988 and bringing those responsible for this genocide and crime against humanity to justice.
They stressed that the issue of human rights should be at the core of the West’s policy on Iran. They urged the UN, EU and the US to put the issue of flagrant and systematic violation of human rights in Iran on top of their agenda.
The call was made during an exhibition on the 1988 massacre that took place upon the initiative of Mr. Jean-François Legaret, the Mayor of Paris municipality District 1 at this municipality on Thursday, August 17, 2017.
In addition to Mr. Legaret, several French mayors including Armand Jacquemin, mayor of Moussy Le Vieux, Jean-Claude Jegoudez, mayor of Grisy-Sur-Seine, and Jacky Duminy, mayor of Ors took part and spoke at the exhibition.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, in a message to the exhibition said 30,000 political prisoners were hanged in Iran in days such as these in the summer of 1988, without any reaction by Western governments.
Those who remained silent over this tragedy betrayed humanity because the mullahs found out that their crimes had no consequences. So, they continued by exporting their terrorism and fundamentalism abroad and drenching the Middle East in blood.http://bit.ly/2ihMDOh
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Friday, August 18, 2017
US ties with Iranian opposition strengthening
US ties with Iranian opposition strengthening
They also met members of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK), the main member of this varied coalition of groups and individuals. The high-profile visit comes at a time when Washington has slapped major new sanctions on Iran, including its Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for its ballistic missile drive, its support for terrorism and its human rights violations. Given that the IRGC controls over 40 percent of Iran’s economy, these new sanctions are a heavy blow to Tehran’s ambitions.
Ties between Iran’s opposition and US officials are strengthening, and the number of high-level officials supporting the opposition is rising. They recognize the opposition as a legitimate representative of many Iranians who seek democracy in their country. Rajavi expressed her gratitude for the US Senate’s tireless efforts to protect thousands of MEK members in Iraq and relocate them to Albania.
Previously, in a Senate briefing, several US officials strongly condemned Iran’s destructive role in Iraq. Sen. Roy Blunt joined an initiative demanding the urgent transfer of MEK members stationed in a former US military base known as Camp Liberty near Baghdad. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1146531#
Previously, in a Senate briefing, several US officials strongly condemned Iran’s destructive role in Iraq. Sen. Roy Blunt joined an initiative demanding the urgent transfer of MEK members stationed in a former US military base known as Camp Liberty near Baghdad. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1146531#
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
ANALYSIS: Congress is taking the lead on Iran policy
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A visit by a high-profile delegation of American Senators to Albania, home to members of the Iranian opposition, is sending major signals and messages to Tehran about growing consensus in Washington over the necessity to adopt regime change policy in the face of the mullahs’ belligerence.
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Destructive meddling
Monday, August 14, 2017
New sanctions on Iran, now it's time for a new US policy too
New sanctions on Iran, now it's time for a new US policy too
new US policy too
On the second anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, some argue that the agreement succeeded in slowing Iran’s progress toward a nuclear weapon. However, the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program are only limited, as is the international inspectors’ access to the country’s illicit facilities.
In addition, in areas unrelated to the nuclear agreement, the Iranian regime’s behavior has only gotten worse over the past two years. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has escalated its nefarious activities in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, has deliberately sought out close encounters with American warships, and has boasted of new Iranian military equipment.
The White House’s efforts to enforce a harder line on Iran policy is well justified and the president’s signing into law of H.R. 3364, which included a title, “Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017” is a step in the right direction.http://fxn.ws/2uI6VlH
On the second anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, some argue that the agreement succeeded in slowing Iran’s progress toward a nuclear weapon. However, the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program are only limited, as is the international inspectors’ access to the country’s illicit facilities.
In addition, in areas unrelated to the nuclear agreement, the Iranian regime’s behavior has only gotten worse over the past two years. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has escalated its nefarious activities in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, has deliberately sought out close encounters with American warships, and has boasted of new Iranian military equipment.
The White House’s efforts to enforce a harder line on Iran policy is well justified and the president’s signing into law of H.R. 3364, which included a title, “Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017” is a step in the right direction.http://fxn.ws/2uI6VlH
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Senior US Senators meet Iran opposition leader in Albania
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While August seems usually a passive time of the year in politics, it has been quite the opposite for Iran and the wide variety of developments around this controversial international dossier.
A senior delegation of United States Senators travelled to Tirana, the capital of Albania, today, August 12, 2017, to meet the Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, who heads the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
The delegation, Senators Roy Blunt, Vice President of the Republican Conference, and member of the Appropriation, Select Intelligence, Rules and Administration, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees; John Cornyn, the Majority Whip, and a member of the Judiciary, Select Intelligence, and Finance committees; and Thom Tillis, a member of the Armed Services, Judiciary, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs committees, also visited members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in the Albanian capital.
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“Led by Senator Blunt, the delegation congratulated the safe and secure relocation of all Camp Liberty residents outside of Iraq and wished them success in their struggle for democracy and human rights in Iran,” according to an NCRI statement.
Tirana, Albania, August 12, 2017 - Mrs. Maryam Rajavi (center), the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran meeting a senior delegation from the United States Senate. From right: Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).http://bit.ly/2w2WsomSaturday, August 12, 2017
Yes, watch North Korea, but don’t take your eyes off Iran
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Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
Arab
Iran is North Korea’s major partner in the sale, transfer, and proliferation of ballistic missile technology. Iran’s missiles are copies of North Korea’s. Both countries flout international law, sponsor terrorism and employ military hardware such as ballistic missiles to threaten the security and interests of other nations. Tehran already has long-range ballistic missiles that can hit any country in the Middle East and US bases in the region. Iran’s generals have frequently boasted about these capabilities and have test-fired missiles carrying provocative messages such as “Death to Israel.” But Iran is not satisfied with what it has. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which oversees the program, is aggressively pursuing technology that could lead to the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile. North Korean engineers are in Iran helping the IRGC to advance its ballistic missile arsenal and develop nuclear warheads. With ICBMs, Iran would have the ability to strike anywhere in the world, and a major reason for acquiring them is as a delivery tool for nuclear weapons. In addition, an Iranian ICBM could easily fall into the hands of Tehran’s militias and proxies across the region, a significant threat to peace and security.http://bit.ly/2uPrQm3 |
Friday, August 11, 2017
Tortured by 'Moderates' Iran's dissidents deserve a hearing AUG 21, 2017 | By KELLY JANE TORRANCE
Tortured by 'Moderates'
Iran's dissidents deserve a hearing
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Hassan Rouhani was sworn in for his second term as president of Iran on August 5, surrounded by fresh flowers, fervent followers, and around 500 foreign officials. Representatives of the United Kingdom, France, the United Nations, and the Vatican rubbed shoulders with the Syrian prime minister, Hezbollah second-in-command Naim Qassem, Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader and FBI Most Wanted Terrorists list member Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, and murderous Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. The Westerners didn’t seem uncomfortable in such company; indeed, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was described as the star of the show after Iranian members of parliament elbowed through the crowd to take selfies with the diplomat.
But why should they have been bothered? They were in Tehran, after all, to celebrate the renewed rule of a man who has overseen a steady increase in killings—Iran has the world’s highest per capita execution rate. Three days before Rouhani’s inauguration, Amnesty International released a damning report on conditions in the country: “Iran’s judicial and security bodies have waged a vicious crackdown against human rights defenders since Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, demonizing and imprisoning activists who dare to stand up for people’s rights.” The press release capping Mogherini’s visit didn’t mention the European-based organization’s report—or human rights issues at all—instead focusing on “the EU’s unwavering commitment to” the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal. It’s unlikely Mogherini brought up the subject even in her private meetings: She was pictured smiling in multiple photo-ops with government officials.http://tws.io/2fy8qjC
Thursday, August 10, 2017
IRAN EXPANDS ITS TERRORIST SPONSORSHIP IN THE BALKANS
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By Pejman Amiri
From the onset the mullah’s regime in Iran, the issue of exporting revolution or to be more exact, Islamic fundamentalism, has been one of the pillars of the external policy. One of the aspects of this devastative activities can be distinguished in the Middle East, but the impact of this policy in other parts of the world has been much less noticed. Related to this subject, Peiman Amiri wrote a piece in American Thinker.
The U.S. Congress' recent bill of sanctions on Iran mainly cites the Iranian regime's terrorist activities throughout the Middle East.
The recently released Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 by the U.S. State Department says:
“Iran continued its terrorist-related activity in 2016, including support for Hezbollah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and various groups in Syria, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East. Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps‑Quds Force (IRGC-QF) to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and create instability in the Middle East. Iran has acknowledged the involvement of the IRGC-QF in the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the IRGC-QF is Iran’s primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad.”
The report is strong, however it does not mention anything on the Iranian regime’s terrorist activities in Europe.
Iran's promotion of its brand of Shi'ite Islam, linked with its terrorist-related activities across the Middle East has been obvious for decades, but such activities in Europe have largely managed to fly under the radar. The Iranian regime is advancing its presence and resources considerably in Europe, especially, in the Balkans.http://bit.ly/2uuwqGO
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IRGC BYPASS SANCTIONS THROUGH ROUHANI'S SMILE DIPLOMACY'
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By Hamid Bahrami
Politically, considering the growing debate about a US policy of regime change, it is safe to say that all regime factions are alarmed over the new, effective American sanctions on Tehran. Thus, Rouhani, as president, immediately met senior IRGC commanders to discuss the crisis and hammer out solutions.http://bit.ly/2vnJoJt
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Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Europe must not turn a blind eye to Iran’s human rights abuses
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Amnesty International has just published a 94-page report entitled “Caught in a web of repression: Iran’s human rights defenders under attack.” It details 45 specific instances of what the organization has described as a “vicious crackdown” coinciding with the supposedly moderate presidency of Hassan Rouhani, who begins his second term in office this week.
 The Iranian Human Rights Organization announced that the Iranian authorities executed over one hundred people during the month of July. (File photo: Reuters)Repressive, theocratic regimehttp://bit.ly/2foziT1 |
Monday, August 7, 2017
ANALYSIS: Are sanctions on Iran a sign of shifting US policy?
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Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Al Arabiya English's point-of-view.
Retreating or challenging |
Iran expands its terrorist sponsorship in the Balkans
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The U.S. Congress's recent bill of sanctions on Iran mainly cites the Iranian regime's terrorist activities throughout the Middle East.
The recently released Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 by the U.S. State Department says:
The report is strong; however, it does not mention anything on the Iranian regime's terrorist activities in Europe.
Iran's promotion of its brand of Shi'ite Islam, linked with its terrorist-related activities across the Middle East, has been obvious for decades, but such activities in Europe have largely managed to fly under the radar. The Iranian regime is advancing its presence and resources considerably in Europe, especially in the Balkans.http://bit.ly/2uuwaa9
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Iran: Crackdown Increasing on Border Porters
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International organizations must condemn repressive measures
On the night of July 31, Iran’s repressive forces opened fire on a group of porters around a village near the city of Sardasht, western Iran, leaving one porter by the name of Azad Mina-Abduli seriously wounded.
The day before a group of porters, who strive to make ends meet through delivering and selling goods, were attacked by border police. One of the porters was killed and two others left seriously wounded.
Prior to this on June 25 another porter by the name of Karim Mohammad Aminzadeh from the city of Sardasht lost his life after repressive forces opened fire. Another porter, Mohammad Ahmadiyan, was seriously wounded.
On June 29 two other porters from the cities of Sardasht and Piranshahr were also seriously wounded as repressive forces opened fire and a landmine exploded.
More than 68,000 porters are working in Iran’s border provinces, of which 16,000 to 18,000 are in Piranshahr and Sardasht, reports indicate.
These porters are attacked and shot at as they are forced to resort to this type of hard work to make ends meet for their families. This is taking place at a time when according to Iranian MP Hossein-Ali Haji Doleigani $25 billion worth of goods are smuggled each year, meaning three times the country’s entire construction budget.
Smuggling goods and currency has led to 800,000 more people becoming unemployed (State-run media – June 19, 2016). These are heavy contracts controlled by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and other security and intelligence entities.
At a press conference in London on March 7 the Iranian Resistance blew the whistle on 90 ports, meaning 45% of all of Iran’s ports, are used for massive smuggling efforts. These ports are mainly placed at the IRGC’s disposal.
The Iranian Resistance calls on all the people, especially the youth in border areas, to support the hardworking porters, and support and express solidarity with the victims’ families.
The Iranian Resistance also calls on all international labor organizations to strongly condemn the mullahs’ regime for its crimes against Iran’s hardworking laborers.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
August 3, 2017 |
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Failed Attempts of Iran Regime Against MEK
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Iran Focus
London, 2 Aug - Mere hours before the Iranian Resistance’s annual Free Iran gathering began in Paris, the Iranian Regime’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, visited France in order to ban the gathering.
He failed. Over 100,000 people turned up to support the Iranian people’s call for freedom.http://bit.ly/2hq3z4s
Three weeks later, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent his close relative and advisor, Kamal Kharrazi, who was involved in a failed 2003 plot to discredit the resistance group the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK/PMOI), to denounce the MEK/PMOI as "a terrorist group that murdered thousands of ordinary citizens in Iran".
This is, of course, a complete lie, but when your daily activities include running a terrorist training camp, murdering political prisoners, and illegally continuing work on your nuclear programme, what’s a little lying?
These are clear attempts to discredit the MEK/PMOI because the Regime doesn’t like that the MEK/PMOI is providing evidence about the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988. However, while the MEK/PMOI is well respected in France and around the world, the Regime should be grateful not to be on trial for crimes against humanity yet.
The Regime is angry because the PMOI/MEK and other resistance groups have called for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to blacklist for their clear links to terrorism, criticised the treatment of political prisoners along with Amnesty International and the UN, and called for the Regime to stop interfering in the affairs of other states in the Middle East.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has released a statement advising the French Government and the international community to see these fabricated claims are merely the actions of a despotic regime that is losing power.
The NCRI wrote: “According to reports obtained from inside the regime, the Supreme National Security Council of the mullahs discussed, in the presence of the Foreign and Intelligence Ministers (MOIS), new schemes to fabricate new files against PMOI and handing them over to the French judiciary.”
The NCRI detailed 12 instances in which the Regime has tried to pull off this same type of attack in the past.http://bit.ly/2hq3z4s
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Wednesday, August 2, 2017
KHAMENEI'S FEAR FOLLOWING RISE OF JUSTICE-SEEKING MOVEMENT FOR THE VICTIMS OF 1988 MASSACRE
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Desperate attempts in Paris to reverse the place of the executioner and the victimThree weeks after the annual rally of the Iranian Resistance in Villepinte in the Paris suburbs, while the mullahs' regime's cries due to the extensive reception of this event inside the country and on the international scene, while the Justice-Seeking Movement calling for justice for the victims of the massacre of political prisoners has turned into a growing social campaign,
and while this regime is extremely disgraced and hated for its crimes against the countries in the Middle East, Khamenei, the self-proclaimed Supreme Leader of Muslims around the world, sent Kamal Kharrazi, his adviser and a close relative, to Paris to introduce the PMOI as "a terrorist group that murdered thousands of ordinary citizens in Iran ", thus attempting to counter the increasing domestic and international prestige of the PMOI.
Kharrazi's visit to Paris follows the visit of Javad Zarif (foreign minister of the mullahs' regime) on 29 and 30 June, whose desperate attempt to ban the annual meeting of the Resistance which took place On July 1st in Villepinte failed. On his return to Tehran Zarif said, "in our discussions with the French authorities, we have raised this issue as a point of ambiguity in our relations".http://bit.ly/2vrK0za
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MEK/PMOI GAINS SUPPORT WHILE IRANIAN REGIME GETS WEAKER
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by Poorang Novak
The justice-seeking movement that wants the Iranian regime to be punished for the horrific massacre of MEK/PMOI members is gaining momentum, just weeks after the opposition’s event in Paris. On 1st July, tens of thousands of people attended the Free Iran rally and hundreds of former US and European government officials and prominent political figures spoke about the need for justice for the MEK/PMOI members who were killed during the 1988 massacre.
The Iranian regime is at an extremely low point. In the days before the grand gathering, Foreign Minister of Iran Javad Zarif went to Paris to try to stop the event from taking place. He was unable to manage this.
Not long later, Supreme Leader Khamenei sent his adviser Kamal Kharrazi to the French capital to declare that the MEK/PMOI is a “terrorist group” that has been involved in the murder of “thousands of ordinary citizens in Iran”. This is clearly an attempt to smear the MEK/PMOI’s solid reputation and to counter the increasing amount of support it is getting.http://bit.ly/2ukuOyN
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