Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat, July 2, 2017— Iranian opposition held its annual convention 2017 in auditorium in Villepente Exhibition Center, near Paris, on Saturday in a massive expression of support urging the world to adopt a firm approach toward the regime in Iran.
Hundreds of prominent political figures and activists from all over the world attended the convention.
President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Maryam Rajavi delivered a speech saying: “the regime’s overthrow is possible and within reach, and a democratic alternative and organized resistance exists that can topple it.”
Participants criticized Iran’s regional and international behavior and announced their support for the opposition in toppling the regime.
Mujahid-e Khalq hoisted Iranian flags with lion and sun logos on it.
Mujahid-e Khalq is one of the prominent opposition parties calling for regime change in Iran. The organization was formed in 1965 and was part of the factions that toppled the former regime.
Rajavi said that toppling the regime is crucial to ensure security and peace in the region.
“The only solution to free the people of Iran and establish peace and tranquility in the region, is the overthrow of the Iranian regime,” declared Rajavi.
She said that the ruling regime is in disarray and paralyzed as never before, adding that the Iranian society is simmering with discontent and the international community is finally getting closer to the reality that appeasing the ruling theocracy is misguided.
Speaking about the recent presidential elections, Rajavi stated in fear of a repeat of the 2009 uprising, Khamenei had to back down from his plan in the presidential election sham to bring the name of Raisi, the executioner in charge of the 1988 massacre.
“The regime is not capable of reform because the so-called reformists who were in office for more than half of this regime’s rule, did nothing but serving the Welayat-e Faqih. This regime cannot be contained, because more than three decades of West’s concessions did not bring about any change in this regime,” NCRI leader said.
Rajavi highlighted the plight of Iran’s population under the current regime, and commended Iran’s political prisoners for supporting the gathering “from the depths of the regime’s torture chambers.”
Rajavi added that the international community must recognize the resistance of the Iranian people to overthrow the mullahs’ religious dictatorship and designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and evict it from the entire region.
NCRI’s President underlined the Iranian Resistance’s unwavering belief in the people’s free choice, the separation of religion and state, women’s active and equal participation in political leadership, and the autonomy of various ethnic groups in the framework of Iran’s territorial integrity.
She added, “As I have reiterated, repeatedly, we want neither money, nor arms. We urge you to recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the mullahs’ religious dictatorship.”
Addressing the conference, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Islamic Studies Prince Turki al-Faisal called for Iranian Supreme Leader and Iranian officials to be brought to justice for their “crimes against the Iranian people,” who he described as the “first victims” of the Iranian regime.
Prince Turki explained that what made Arabs and Iranians brothers, was “not only geography, but the humanitarian relationships.”
“All the (Gulf Cooperation Council) GCC countries and their neighbor Iran have always been living in harmony until the Khomeini revolution came into being in 1979,” Prince Turki added.
He said there was an “external strategy… to replace the concept of stability with the concept of coup and conflict.”
Faisal stressed that the Iranian elections are undemocratic and illegitimate because Khamenei appoints the candidates adding that the behavior of the Iranian regime does not qualify it to be a democratic system.
Former UN ambassador, John Bolton said during the Grand Gathering that the outcome of the US policy review will determine that the regime will not last.
Bolton added that Tehran must not be allowed to control the arch from Baghdad to Damascus to Lebanon. Iran’s regime is not only a nuclear threat but also a conventional threat to peace and security.
Tehran regime does not change its behavior, so the only solution is to change the regime, stated Bolton, adding that the US declared policy should be regime change and there is a viable opposition in this room.
Former NY Mayor, Rudy Giuliani said the only way for stability in the Middle East is through a regime change.
“You, I, my government and your leadership, we see Iran in exactly the same way. The regime is evil and it must go. Free Iran,” said Mayor Giuliani.
