Theresa Villiers, Former MEP, addressed an online event on October 15, 2020, on the Iranian regime’s terrorism and how it undermines global security.

The event, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Members of Parliament of the U.K. and Irish politicians joined the online conference. Also, many Iranians supporters of the MEK and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)from various countries participated in the event. They focused on the fact that the Iran’s regime is a critical threat to global security, which is especially true considering the mullahs’ terror plots in Europe.

The event came in the wake of new threats by the regime’s incarcerated diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi. Assadi, who arrested following the regime’s foiled bomb plot against the NCRI’s “Free Iran” gathering in 2018 in Paris, threatened Belgian authorities with attacks by the mullahs’ proxy groups if he is found guilty.

The foiled bomb plot in 2018 and Assadi’s threats once again underline the need for European countries to take firm action against the mullahs’ regime.

Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers, MP, in the Iranian opposition NCRI online conference—October 15, 2020

It’s a great privilege for me to be able to take part in this event this afternoon. And as Struan said, I’ve taken a long stand interest in the human rights situation in Iran. And I’m afraid there can be no doubt that Iran’s theocratic dictatorship is widely recognized as a leading state sponsor of terrorism. That was expressly acknowledged by the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. I see the point I’ve spoken out on in Parliament following representing by my British-Iranian constituents. 

Since its inception, the theocratic regime has maintained its grip on power, both for using internal repression within country but also via the spread of extremism and hatred and state terrorism abroad because they use a key part of their approach staying in power. Analyzing connection between two pillars of the regime is central to understanding the motives and tactics, and the methodology for seeking to maintain and shore up that position. 

As Struan has said, the regime is heavily involved in fostering instability and conflict, terrorism in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen. For example, support huge amounts of ours to proxies like Hezbollah, they are also going to be providing assistance of Hamas, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. My British-Iranian constituent tell me the lurers are also used to terrorism to target Iranian dissidents abroad, including pro-democracy movements, such as National Council, for instance, in Iran. This is a worrying extraterritorial application of the brutal domestic crackdown on protests that other speakers have already highlighted this afternoon. So, I’m afraid not just in the war zones to the least for the impact of Iran’s activities or terrorism is being facts. 

I have heard this afternoon an Iranian diplomat is due to be in trial in Belgium accused involvement in a 2018 terror plot. Iran and its IRGC are a threat in the places around the world. They are ruthlessly suppressing the democratic aspirations of Iranian for its home, and they’re causing real threats to other countries as well. It’s shocking that the UNODA, Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, against Iran is due to expire in just a few days’ time. I really regret that. I very much like to see a tougher approach to the regime by the UK Government. There is, for example, a clear case to provide the IRGC as a terrorist organization. And I urge the UK government to do this. I’d also call on the UK Government to engage Mrs. Rajavi and NCRI who are working so hard to move Iran towards a free and democratic future. 

And so, I’d like to welcome the state that we just heard and read, Mrs. Rajavi. I hope that it would give hope for the future while situation in Iran is very grave. And people there are spring greatly. I hope that sometimes we will see reform, we will see democracy, we will see respect for human rights in and on, and to get it free and democratic future that people want and that they deserve. Thank you.