International conference calls for a firm policy toward the growing terrorism of the Iranian regime
Reported by PMOI/MEK
Brussels - Feb. 4, 2019 - On Monday, a conference at the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, discussed the growing terrorist activities of the Iranian regime and the correct policy that the international community, especially Europe, must take to address the threats posed by the Iranian regime.
Former EP Vice President Alejo Vidal-Quadras
The conference comes less than two weeks prior to a major international conference in Warsaw, Poland, where senior officials will be discussing multitudes of threats the Iranian regime is posing to global peace and security. It is also being held against the backdrop of increased terrorist activities by the Iranian regime in Europe.
Former European Parliament Vice President Dr. Alejo Vidal Quadras, who moderated the conference, stressed that terrorist acts coming out of Iran are being coordinated at the highest levels of power within the regime, a fact that Iranian regime Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif implicitly admitted to in a recent parliament hearing.
“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 criticized the EU’s decision to only take minimal punitive measures against the Iranian regime for its terrorist activities. “The question is, 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,” Quadras said.
Quadras warned that the European Union’s appeasement policy is giving the Iranian regime the green light continue its terrorism. “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,” he said.
Judge Freeh: The only language this regime understands and respects is applied force and sanctions
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh
“In Europe, we know the historical dangers and consequences of improper appeasement,” said Former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who spoke at the conference.
Freeh stressed that the terrorist activity by the Iranian regime is not the work of several rogues or people who are unilaterally performing acts of terrorism on their own. “It’s controlled by the state,” he said. “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.”
Judge Freeh explained that while the regime is faced with an economic crisis and a plummeting national currency, it is desperate to maintain its influence and leverage. “That’s why it is resorting to terrorism,” he said.
European countries want to both appear strong and they also desire their relationship with the Iranian regime, Judge Freeh said, which is resulting in a contradictory policy of trade deals and very minimal punishments for egregious acts of terrorism by the regime.
“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 despite a failed terror plot in Paris, the Iranian regime continued its terrorist activities in Europe. “The regime will continue to operate that way as long as European capitals tolerate that,” he said.
Regarding recent EU sanctions against a small subset of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry (MOIS), Freeh said, “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.”
“We want the people of Iran to someday have the freedoms that we’re taking for granted.
European governments must strengthen their resolve against the Iranian regime.
The entire MOIS must be sanctioned. The IRGC must be sanctioned, as well as leaders and officials,” Freeh recommended. “The only thing this regime understands and respects is applied force and sanctions.”
Farzin Hashemi: Terrorism is part of the regime’s DNA
NCRI member Farzin Hashemi
Farzin Hashemi, a member of the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), 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.
“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.”
In reference to Albania, where members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) are based and the Iranian regime is focusing its main terrorism efforts, Hashemi explained how 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 went on to shed light on 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,” the NCRI member explained.
Looking forward, Hashemi spelled out the measures necessary for Europe in the face of 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 explained as he 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.”
Giulio Terzi: There must be much more courage among European countries
Former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi
The Iranian regime is especially unique in using its embassies and missioning its diplomats for not only intelligence gathering measures, but also carrying out terrorism plots.
“Clear and proactive initiatives by member states should be adopted. There is an ongoing cooperation between Western intelligence and Iranian proxies… Iran has a special status in its approach and relationship with the West, especially in regards to intelligence interaction. The cooperation here is on a different level,” said former Italian Former Minister Giulio Terzi.
“Diplomats suspected of being involved in criminal plans must be immediately expelled from European countries. A strong policy must be adopted. There must be much more courage among European countries. We must pay special attention to the safety and security of our people,” he emphasized for EU officials in Brussels who decide on their policy and approach with the Iranian regime.
“The cyberthreats from Iran must also be dealt with in a specific way,” the former Italian Foreign Minister added as Tehran steps up its malign activities in this field.
Yves Bonnet: Europe must consider closing Iranian embassies
Former French intelligence chef Yves Bonnet
Totalitarian regimes resort to terrorism to remove their opponents, explained former French intelligence chief Yves Bonnet. Defined as state terrorism, it is worse than other forms of terrorism and far worse to have terrorism carried out under diplomatic cover and through embassies, he continued.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of these terrorist state. It is carrying out bomb plots, assassinations, abductions and much more, especially in the first two decades of its existence,” the DST chief added.
What remains mind boggling to those unfamiliar with the terrorism nature of this regime is the reason and logic behind Tehran’s terrorismcampaigns and measures.
“Why is the regime taking the risk to engage in terrorist activities again? It is faced with various difficulties on political and economic fronts. And it is its habit to make terrorist attempts against the opposition whenever it finds itself in a difficult situation,” Bonnet emphasized.
“The new stance of European diplomacy is great news, and it will complicate things for the Iranian regime, which usually banks on rivalries between European states. But we must also make it clear that we’re willing to take further steps, such as closing down their embassies. Because it’s clear that the Iranian regime uses its embassies at bases of operations for its terrorist activities,” the DST chief reiterated by voicing strong measures against Tehran’s mullahs.
“I think that we must very seriously consider the closure of Iranian embassies, and expel the diplomats whose only interest is eliminating opposition members. Accordingly, we must consider the international recognition of the Iranian Resistance as the real representatives of the Iranian people.”
Claude Moniquet: The Iranian regime needs to eliminate MEK and NCRI to maintain its hold on power
Claude Moniquet
For four decades, the Iranian regime has been using terrorism as a foreign policy tool, according to Claude Moniquet, a retired French journalist and a former intelligence agent at the French Directorate-General for External Security.
“[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,” he explained.
“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,” the former DST intelligence agent added.
The Iranian regime is based on the two pillars of domestic crackdown and foreign warmongering. Terrorism is one such tool used by Tehran in response to a conglomerate of crises.
“Why would the regime resort to terrorism? There are internal problems in Iran. The 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. The regime also has interests in preventing the Palestinian and Israeli peace talks to keep the situation in Middle East complicated and insecure,” Moniquet explained, shedding light on the various aspects of Tehran’s malign activities.
“The regime has also carried out terrorist activities in Europe. There were dozens killed in Europe in the past decades, but the Iranian regime has never met a firm response. Europe has conveyed the message to the Iranian regime that it can conduct terrorist activities on their soil without being held to account,” he added, reiterating the importance of Europe adopting a firm approach against the mullahs’ regime.
“For the first time, we have an Iranian diplomat who has been arrested because of his direct involvement in a terrorist plot. We have a chance to take firm action, including expelling diplomats, closing embassies and cutting diplomatic ties until the regime respects international norms and values.”
پیش بسوی قیام سراسری ، ما بر اندازیم# کانونهای شورشی در شهرهای ایران #
اعتصاب واعتراض و تظاهرات# سرنگونی رژیم # اتحادوهمبستگی
مرگ_بر_دیکتاتور #IranRegimeChange
مطالب ما را در وبلاک خط سرخ مقاومت
ودر توئیتر @bahareazady دنبال کنید
