June 29, 2024: On Saturday, June 29, the Free Iran World Summit 2024: Onward to a Democratic Republic convened at the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris. Simultaneously, thousands of Iranians abroad gathered in Berlin to support the Iran Uprising for a democratic republic, the separation of religion and state, and the Ten-Point Plan of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
The Iran World Summit, along with the Free Iran Rally 2024, features prominent speakers who address key topics such as the sham presidential election in Iran, the threats posed by the existing regime, the viable alternative, and the imperative of adopting the right policies to foster a prosperous future for Iran.
#FreeIran2024 World Summit
Onward to a Democratic Republic
Freedom-loving Iranians Rally in Berlin June 29, 2024, 2.30 p.m. CEST #MaryamRajavi4FreeIran #BerlinDemoJune29 https://t.co/ypGnyanY58— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) June 29, 2024
This page is updated with further developments of the summit and rally.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
In her speech Mrs. Maryam Rajavi hailed the Iranian people and the Iranian women’s struggle for freedom, stressing: “Your massive rally today in Berlin represents a continuation of the Iranian people’s triumph in the nationwide boycott of (Iran’s supreme leader Ali) Khamenei’s elections.”
Mrs. Rajavi said: “The sham elections are the outcome of the impasse and the majorإ failures that plague the regime because the people of Iran have repeatedly and clearly declared, “Our vote is to overthrow the regime; there is no place for elections in this regime. It’s time for revolution!”
Mrs. Rajavi explained: “Direct monitoring and observation from the beginning to the end of the so-called voting, from 8 am to 12 am at over 14,000 polling stations by the People’ Mojahedin Organization (PMOI) I sympathizers, indicate that the boycott struck a sledgehammer blow against the regime, with 88 percent of Iranians abstaining from the fraudulent elections. Only 12 percent of eligible voters –fewer than 7.4 million people– turned out.”
“The next incoming President represents the continuation of the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s strategy. He is a Basij member steeped in four decades of suppression and war, a follower of the 1988 executioner Ebrahim Raisi, a representative of the criminals known as Ansar-Hezbollah, and a loyal servant to Khamenei’s bomb-making agenda.”
“Reformists within this irreformable regime were this time used to increase turnout. However, when asked, their candidate reiterated that his programs and policies are decided by Khamenei, and that deviating from them is a redline for him.”
She added: “Khamenei’s assessment following the 2022 uprising led him to a desperate attempt, which later manifested in the conflict in Gaza. He publicly proclaimed his decision in Mashhad on March 21, 2023, under the name of the “Resistance Front,” declaring, “We unequivocally announce the Resistance Front.”
“This is why we argue that to achieve peace in the region, it’s crucial to target the head of the snake of warmongering.”
“Dark days lie ahead for the clerical regime. The countdown to overthrow has begun,” she concluded.
Pointing to the serial uprising beginning in December 2017 and continuing through the uprisings in 2018, November 2019, and September 2022, Mrs. Rajavi hailed “the generation driven by rebellion and revolution,” stressing that “every day, we witness the performance, growth, and ascension of this generation through the sacrifices of the Resistance Units across our occupied homeland.”
Full Speech
Former United States Vice President Mike Pence
Thank you for standing up for a free Iran. It is an honor to be with you all.As we gather today, though, there is one champion for freedom who is not with us, a man who served with distinction for nearly a quarter century in the United States Senate. He’s been mentioned from this podium already once and honored today. He was a man who never hesitated to stand for freedom, to stand for America’s alliances around the world, and he never hesitated to stand with the people of Iran. And when the day comes when Iran is once again free, we will remember and be grateful for the life and work of Senator Joe Lieberman.
I urge you from the bottom of my heart, to keep working, keep fighting, never stop believing in a free Iran, and never doubt that the freedom-loving American people are with you and support your dream of a secular, democratic Iranian Republic.
When people ask why I chose to be here, the answer is simple. I want the world to know that because of all of you, the winds of change are blowing in Iran stronger than ever before.
We gather at a momentous time in the wake of momentous events. I rejoice at the death of no man. But the death of President Ebrahim Raisi makes the future brighter, and the world is safer now that such an evil man has passed into history.
I scarcely need to tell anyone here or those looking on that Raisi was a mass murderer. His appointment as president in 2021 was widely understood to be a sign of the regime’s growing frustration at its inability to quell the dissent within its borders. His number one job was to shut down the resistance. Because of all of you, Raisi failed because the resistance is stronger than ever before.
And we gather here just one day after elections were held in Iran, presumably to choose a new president. But it should come as no surprise, as media around the world are reporting that the election yesterday saw the lowest turnout in the history of Iran since the revolution.
The people of Iran know that the election was a sham. They know that they will never have a real choice under the current regime, and they weren’t willing to participate in a charade that only intended to legitimize the regime in the eyes of the outside world. This much we know for sure. Whoever is the new president of Iran, he will inherit a regime that is weaker, less stable, and more prone to collapse than at any point in history.
The regime will not go quietly into the night of its own accord. That’s why only a tested, organized, and proven resistance can bring about lasting change. A movement that can inspire the people to take action and has a history of standing up to the regime. A movement that is willing to sacrifice and pay the price needed for freedom. The good news is that such a movement exists. That movement is the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
The truth is, the mullahs in Tehran have no greater fear than the NCRI. That’s why they put Mrs. Rajavi and 100 of the leaders of this movement on trial in absentia, hoping to scare the younger generation of heroes, many of whose faces we just saw on the walls of this gathering.
But the persecution and murder of members of the resistance units across Iran have only strengthened this movement and its numbers, its resolve, and it is inspiring the free world. Just as Raisi failed to exterminate the MEK during the 1988 massacre, Tehran will again fail to defeat the resistance units in Iran today.
Under the Trump-Pence administration, we did not turn a deaf ear to the pleas of the Iranian people. We did not remain silent in the face of the Iranian regime’s countless atrocities, and we proudly stood with the freedom-loving people of Iran.
We canceled the Iran nuclear deal that had flooded the regime’s coffers with tens of billions of dollars and pallets full of cash used to repress its own people and support deadly terrorist attacks across the world. We imposed crippling new sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. We launched a campaign of maximum pressure, punishing the regime for its belligerent behavior and assault on its own citizens. We vigorously enforced those sanctions to bring Iran’s oil exports to near zero and deny the regime its principal source of revenue, and we made it abundantly clear that the United States will never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
We took all these steps and we did not hesitate when the time came to stop the world’s leading terrorist, and Qassam Salami is gone.
On the day we left office, the Iranian regime was more isolated than ever before. But now the current American administration has been unraveling much of the progress that we made in marginalizing that tyrannical regime in Tehran, working overtime to restore the Iran nuclear deal, putting Tehran back on a fast track for obtaining a nuclear weapon.
But as the American presidential election unfolds before a watching world, our allies and enemies should know this, whatever the condition of our current American leadership. The American people are strong. The American military is the strongest military in the history of the world, and any nation that wishes us or our allies ill must know, as President Kennedy said, that the American people always stand ready to pay any price, meet any hardship, bear any burden, support any friend, and oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty, I promise you.
The Iranian regime has never been weaker than it is today. Four out of five Iranians now live below the poverty line. Corruption is at an all-time high. The Iranian people are fed up. They’re ready for change. They’re more united than ever before. You know hope is aflame in the heart of freedom-loving men and women. I believe that flame is burning brighter in your countrymen than ever before.
One of the biggest lies of the ruling regime sold to the wider world is that there is no alternative to the status quo. But you all know there is an alternative, well organized, fully prepared, perfectly qualified, and popularly supported alternative called the National Council of Resistance of Iran, whose main component is called the MEK.
Please join me in thanking Maryam Rajavi for your outstanding leadership, your vision, and your personal courage. You are an inspiration to the world.
I want the wider world to understand that the MEK and the NCRI share the same values that Western nations hold dear. Mrs. Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran will extend political, social, and economic equality to women. It will allow all citizens to prosper and thrive in a free market economy, and the Ten-Point Plan will ensure the freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly, and guarantee the right of every Iranian to live, work, and worship according to the dictates of their conscience in freedom.
We stand with the proud people of Iran because it is right, because the regime in Tehran threatens the peace and security of the world, and no oppressive regime can last forever. I believe just as the Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of its own sins, so too will be the fate of the oppressors in Iran. The day will come when the unelected Ayatollahs release their iron-fisted grip on Iran and their people, and a new glorious day will dawn. A bright future will begin, ushering in an era of peace, prosperity, stability, and a spirit of freedom. I look forward to the day that we will gather together in a free, open, democratic Iran.
Honored to speak at the #FreeIran2024 World Summit. Told the Iranian resistance, change is coming because of all of you. The winds of change are blowing in Iran, stronger than ever before. The enduring hope for a free Iran can never be extinguished and the people of Iran will… pic.twitter.com/AUbxor2bk3
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 29, 2024
Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament and co-founder of the International Committee in Search of Justice
Good afternoon to you all. It’s a great pleasure and a privilege for me to enjoy your company here in Berlin today and to do it alive and in good health. Yes, alive despite the plot of the Iranian dictatorship that sent a hitman to kill me on the 9th of November, eight months ago now.
A miracle, a miracle happened. Your prayers were listened to and I survived, severely wounded, but fortunately, I have recovered to continue the fight hand in hand, to continue the fight hand in hand with you to liberate Iran from its executioners until we bring full democracy, shining freedom and human dignity to the Iranian people.
It is time to break the chains that have oppressed Iran for 45 years and to build a new country, peaceful, and prosperous, where men and women are equal, the rule of law prevails and war-mongering comes to an end.
Let us, our imagination fly, and our indomitable will be fortified with the vision of an Iran respected in the world, admired by other nations, and attracted for visitors and investment. An Iran with a clean environment, decent jobs for everyone, and a blooming civil society. An Iran where no position is forbidden for women, with women judges, mayors of cities, ministers and presidents of the republic.
Yes, yes, presidents of the republic, and if the president elected by the people is Maryam Rajavi, even better. This vision, this vision is what gives me the strength to endure any suffering and a load of living under permanent protection because I am now one more, one more among the many thousands of Iranian freedom fighters that have resisted torture, prison, and even the loss of their most beloved ones and that makes me to feel proud of being part, a tiny and humble part, but a very committed one of an undertaking of such ambition, self-sacrifice, and courage.
I have a question for the governments of Western democracies on both sides of the Atlantic. What else must happen for them to realize that appeasement, dialogue, negotiations, and concessions do not work when dealing with the mullahs? How, how many, how many more people have they to kill? How many more wars have they to trigger? How many more terrorist actions against dissidents or supporters of the resistance have they to perpetrate out of Iran for these politicians that are supposedly democrats and committed to the defense of human rights be convinced that fair action is needed that the embassies of the regime in Paris, in London, in Rome, in Brussels, in Madrid, in Berlin, in Washington and the rest of capitals of true democracies must be closed?
All, agents of this monstrosity called the Islamic Republic of Iran must be expelled and the fanatical and criminal regime of the mullahs must be isolated, rejected, and forced to fall. All, all the diplomatic effort and financial resources that the Western governments waste to try to achieve success to appease a bunch of malignant enemies should be used to help the struggle of the Iranian people to import the Ten-Point Plan of Maryam Rajavi, to give birth to a new Iran where men and women, old and young, whatever their beliefs, their political opinions or their cultural identity can live in harmony as free and equal as citizens and not as subject of a plague of corrupt and misogynistic clerics.
When I decided in 2008 to go to Ashraf in Iraq despite the dangers, I read Massoud Rajavi’s writings and encountered thoughts and reflections that today’s world needs. Thoughts that I regret have been overshadowed by the Iranian regime, misinformation campaign, and the West’s weak policies.
The dream of Iran’s freedom is closer to reality today than ever. What happened yesterday in the Iran sham elections, both the people’s boycott and the unacceptable power struggle within the regime alongside the remarkable and ongoing activities of the PMOI Resistance Units has made this dream more achievable.
I mentioned Massoud, Massoud Rajavi. Even though I have never seen him, he’s very familiar to me, a true leader, a man who by standing against a brutal, honest lot of religious fundamentalism changed the course of history and raised a generation that has not got tired of resistance for 45 years.
Without him and his generation, we would be facing a medieval caliphate next door today. He rescued Islam from the clutches of the mullahs, and he must be thanked as well as our extraordinary leader, Maryam Rajavi for that.
Former US Senator Robert Torricelli
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Bob Torricelli. I am a former American senator, but today I’m a free Iranian just like you. It is not by chance that we meet today in Berlin. There is no other city in the world that demonstrates more vividly the commitment of a people to be free. The very name Berlin is synonymous with the struggle for freedom and for liberty. It was here that all the free people of the world said enough, no more tyranny, no more oppression.This city and this country will be free. And today we gather with a simple and humble request. What was good for Berlin then is good for the people of Iran now. We want to be free. Do the children of Iran deserve less? Does another generation need to live in abject poverty? Do the women of Iran need to live under complete suppression? Must a religious dictatorship deny all freedom of speech and worship?
Forty years ago, the Iranian revolution was stolen from the people. We are here today in Berlin and in Paris to demand the time is up. It is time for free Iran. No more stealing our freedom.
I know that the leaders of Europe and around the world will say the regime may be bad, but there is no alternative. You are looking at the alternative. It is the Iranian people themselves. I know leaders of Europe will say, but there is no plan. There is a plan. There is a plan. Maryam Rajavi’s plan, the Ten-Point Plan.
Gender equality, peace for the world, non-nuclear, religious freedom, freedom of speech, there is a plan. We have the plan. It is the Ten-Point Plan. To the leaders of Europe and the world, we challenge this. Be on the right side of history.
As the years pass, you will not want to explain to a free generation of Iranians that you chose oil sales or automobile sales or goods and services. You are trinkets of gold rather than standing with the free people of Iran. Be on the right side of history. Stand with us. Stand for a free Iran.
In the streets of every Iranian city, people have voted with their feet. People have risked their lives in demonstrations. They put their lives on the line. Yesterday, 88% of the Iranian people stood home, stood against the regime, and would not participate in a sham election. What else do you need to hear?
The people of Iran want to be free. Today, you will hear from international voices who stand with you. You are not alone. The free Iranian people are not alone. You have friends around the world. It is a rising tide that will drown them all.
Former German Minister Peter Altmaier
You are the heroes of the modern age for your commitment to freedom in Iran. The regime has no respect for the youth and the people. In yesterday’s election, we witnessed the worst turnout in the regime’s history. The rules were established in a way that only allowed the mullahs’ candidates to win. The regime has no other solution than to continue executing Iran’s people. So many people are executed in Iran. But for every execution, a young Iranian rises up to fight for freedom.
Iran’s regime is threatening the entire region with their intervention in the war in Ukraine. In the upcoming weeks and months, we have important things to do. Politicians must find the strength to support the opposition that is fighting for freedom in Iran.
The Ten-Point Plan of Mrs. Rajavi is a document for the rule of law, freedom, and democracy. Spread its message. In Iran, people are striving for freedom and a better future. We have to understand that the situation in Iran is not only the responsibility of the opposition but requires the attention of the world.
We need you for a better future. I wish you all the best. This regime will come to its end, and I hope it will be replaced by a secular and democratic government. I’m convinced that Iran will become one of the most democratic and free countries in the world.
Sahar Sanaei
In my country, the youth are being hanged. What is their crime? Fathers are searching trash cans for food for their children. Who will help mothers who will do anything to feed their children? What is the future of Iran’s children under the rule of the mullahs? Girls are poisoned in schools to shut down their voices.
But their hatred toward the regime intensifies every day. What is their solution? Freedom, freedom, freedom.
Freedom and sacrifice are summarized in the struggle of the PMOI, which never gave up the fight for freedom. All the PMOI martyrs never gave up their fight for freedom and sacrificed their lives.
This is why the youths of Iran are joining the Resistance Units to be the voice of all Iranians who want to live in freedom. The regime can kill our youths, but they will never shut down the voice of resistance.
The Resistance Units will overthrow this regime to bring freedom to Iran. And we tell the regime’s agents, produce as many movies as you can. Did you succeed in destroying our resistance with executions? How will you do it with your movies?
Mrs. Rajavi is the protector of the youth of Iran. She understands the suffering of the youth of Iran, she mourns with them, but she never gives up hope and moves forward with the slogan, “We can and we must.”
Mr. Massoud Rajavi is leading this resistance. With his messages, we can continue this struggle until the victory of the democratic revolution of Iran.
And we send our salutes to the PMOI members in Ashraf 3. We have everything necessary for freedom in Iran.
Amirhossein Zabihi
We salute the heroic Iranian people and the Resistance Units, who said a strong “no” to the regime with the boycott of the sham elections. After the death of Raisi, this regime is weaker than ever.
For every martyr, ten more people will join the PMOI. The ranks of the Resistance Units are expanding every day. They are more energetic every day, and they are fighting stronger than ever.
The PMOI is selfless. They fight for a cause, and they have paid the price for it every day of their lives. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi has led this resistance movement through the hardships. And Mr. Massoud Rajavi has delineated our movement from the Shah and the mullahs since the 1980s.
We are united to free our people and we stand behind the PMOI to establish a democratic republic in Iran. We will expose the fake alternatives and won’t allow them to determine the fate of our people.
Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs. To governments that are appeasing the regime, we say, look at this crowd to see the will of the Iranian nation to overthrow the regime. This regime is only surviving through appeasement. This policy will result in more executions and murders, and you will be complicit in these crimes.
We are the continuation of the PMOI members who were executed in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. We will stand by you until Iran is free. We salute the people of Iran.
Former Belgian PM and MEP Guy Verhofstadt
I have one clear message to the new leadership of the European Union. I want to give an urgent appeal to the new leadership to change the EU strategy toward Iran and the mullahs in Iran. The strategy of the EU toward Iran has been a failure in the last decade. It has been a strategy of appeasement and complacency, and it has failed. The mullahs continue their criminal activities against their own people and across the world.
There is oppression especially of women, because women are the backbone of democratic resistance in Iran. There is brutal execution of political dissidents. There are executions every day. During the mullahs’ regime, there has been proliferation of nuclear activities and they almost have a nuclear bomb. Moreover, they are spreading terrorism in the Middle East. There is not one terrorist group in the Middle East that is not funded by the regime. Additionally, it is the regime of Iran that is giving weapons to Russia in its war against Ukraine.
So my message is that we need a new strategy that is bolder, more courageous, and more effective, one that is as courageous as the people of Iran. It means a strategy based on four pillars:
First, recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Second, stop trying to revive the nuclear deal. The regime can’t be trusted.
Third, we need a new strategy in the EU to liberate the hostages, because what is happening is outrageous. Individual deals done with the regime are outrageous. We need a collective approach that sanctions the regime and increases the sanctions if hostages are not released every month.
Finally, the fourth pillar of the strategy must be the recognition and cooperation with the only opposition, the NCRI. It is outrageous that we are not capable of doing so. The regime has no legitimacy. 88% boycotted the elections in Iran, which is very similar to the parliamentary elections.
We have to stop accepting that the mullahs are the representatives of the Iranian people.
Mrs. Rajavi, it’s time for western leaders to engage with you, to engage with all democratic forces in Iran. There will be a future in Iran, and it will be without the Shah or the mullahs.
Former Canadian PM Stephen Harper
In this great objective, my friends, we join with the people of Iran who are once again this year rejecting the regime by refusing to vote in huge numbers in its sham elections.
This massive boycott is a deliberate and collective act of civil disobedience. In doing so, Iranians are signaling their rejection of the regime’s legitimacy and they are calling for its overthrow.
The Ayatollahs’ regime may repress people as severely as it can, but the people are not fooled. They are not fooled by the facade of its elections or the reality of its extremist anti-democratic ideology.
Thank goodness the people of Iran understand this, because it is clear that many in the international community, especially in the West, do not. Too many of them continue to reach out to Tehran to seek accommodation, even with its nuclear ambitions and even after the events of October 7th, when the mullahs’ proxies launched the current war in the Middle East. These people like to pretend that Iran has little or nothing to do with this war, when it is, in fact, central to almost all the violence in the Middle East.
The real way to promote peace is to help the vast majority of Iranians who want regime change in Iran.
As I have said before, I do not believe the propaganda of the regime, repeated by so-called experts in Western capitals, that somehow the Ayatollahs’ regime is well entrenched and that the alternative to it is somehow chaos.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime today is far weaker than the Shah’s was in 1978 because it is more brutal and more hated, it is more corrupt and it is more dysfunctional.
What exactly do these Western governments fear would happen if the Iranian regime collapsed? Do they really believe that what comes next could be worse than the status quo? How could it be worse than a theocratic state with an apocalyptic vision and a relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, openly listing the countries it wants to wage war against? How could it be worse than a regime that, at great expense and at the suffering of its own people, funds terrorism and war from Syria to Lebanon and from Iraq to Yemen, that is trying to sink ships in the Red Sea, that has started a war in Gaza, that is supporting a war against Ukraine and is attempting to start a war in Lebanon. How exactly could it get worse than that?
There is only one way to deal with this regime, and that is the way my government did, not by softening sanctions but by toughening them, not by turning a blind eye to human rights violations but by condemning them, not by making excuses for the regime but by declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism. And certainly not by engaging the regime, but by closing down its embassies all around the world.
The policy of appeasement, and that is exactly what it is in Western capitals, has only made the regime more aggressive and more determined in its pursuit of nuclear weapons capabilities, and as long as that strategy is pursued, these things will only get worse.
The alternative, we know, is to oppose the regime, because the alternative to the regime is not chaos. It is Iran’s well-organized and democratic opposition.
I am a signatory to an open letter supported by over 75 presidents, former presidents, and prime ministers around the world that offers comprehensive policy recommendations to all governments on the question of Iran. It calls on them to reach out to this, the organized Iranian resistance.
The government of Iran is a global cancer and the only cure is regime change by the Iranian people themselves in free and open elections, and in those elections, this organization, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, will be ready to put forth a fully viable alternative. It is one with a long-standing organization and deep social roots. It has an active network inside and outside of Iran and capable leadership.
Its plans are based on clear principles, things that it has advocated tirelessly for many years: a commitment to free elections, the rejection of the present and past forms of dictatorship, freedom of assembly and expression, pluralism and the rule of law, human rights and gender equality, the separation of religion and state, the acceptance of Iran’s religious and ethnic diversity, and most importantly for the international community, a non-nuclear state at peace with the world.
That is your vision and it is a vision worth fighting for. It is the vision that Iran wants.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
I saw it during my time in office. I saw that when one takes the foot off the pedal, when one begins to allow deterrence to deteriorate, that the Iranian people suffer and that we can never permit that.
I am confident that the Iranian people understand in the same way that each of us in this room does today, that the resistance matters, that the resistance will succeed, and that there is a deep, important, and bright future where Iran will rejoin the peaceful nations of the world and rejoin the set of nations that respect basic human dignity and rights. I am counting on it.
Three ideas today. First, after the death of Raisi, about whom I spoke at great length last time I spoke to you, you should know that I believe Iran is much more vulnerable today after his death than before. He was but a mere lackey. This is about the Ayatollah. He was the butcher of Tehran. He destroyed so many lives himself personally.
He was the chief executioner of mass murder, impacting so many of the family members of people who are here with us today. His job was simple. His job was to inflict pain on people while the Ayatollah wickedly continued to loot and to plunder them.
The entire world witnessed this brutality and sadly too many took it for granted and thought that this might well pass and that if we just gave them enough money or just did enough business with them, perhaps the regime would change. His memory proves that false, and his memory should be consigned to the darkest chapters of human history.
But the flip side is this. You can see the upset, you can see the unrest, you can see the protests. You can see the widespread protest and boycott of the election in March and then what happened just in the past few days. We know that this change is required. We know that this change that is required won’t come because we wish it to be so.
This will come from organized resistance from the people of Iran. And I am counting on them. And for those of you watching today or who will see this later, I am counting on you. We know this much too. We know that there will be great costs associated with this. You all, Madam Rajavi, you all have suffered greatly.
You all continue to be persecuted and prosecuted, and frankly, Western nations aren’t doing enough to support your efforts. But I’m counting on the courageous men and women.
The people of Iran deserve to determine their own future and they need the support of everyone in this room and those in this room who have taken another path. It is never too late to join in the effort to help the people of Iran overthrow this illegitimate regime.
Their alternative? The ruling class will tell us otherwise. They tell us that there is no alternative to the existing regime. But every week in hundreds of cities and townships across Iran, we can see that there is an alternative. The MEK provides a solution to so many problems, not only for Iran but for the broader Middle East as well. There is an alternative.
I’m convinced that you all in your lifetime will get to celebrate that very moment when the regime in Iran collapses.
Madam Rajavi, the 10-point plan you have put forward is the solution. It is the answer. That day will come when it will shatter the theocracy, it will break them to the very core, and the very leaders who are inflicting so much pain on the Iranian people today will be held accountable for all that they have done. This platform is grounded in this self-evident truth upon which American democracy was founded.
You should know that the American people and the vast majority of the people believe this regime must go.
We can see the result of appeasement. The world is more dangerous. A region is more dangerous and the lives of the Iranian people no longer feel that they have the support of the United States of America.
But the good news is all of these mistakes are correctable. We know the set of policies that will help and enable the Iranian people. It is not simply not sufficient, rather to put sanctions in place that matters. This will harm the Iranian economy, make them make difficult choices, force them to not give quite as much money to Hamas or to Hezbollah or to the Houthis. And it will force them to make hard decisions for their economy. But this is good. This is necessary, but not sufficient. Sufficient is the West making clear with the uprisings that are taking place, the resistance movement inside of Iran has our full support in every dimension.
When I visited Ashraf 3, I will never forget being shown the red covered book. Its pages contained the names of the tens of thousands of people who had been martyred, who had been killed by this regime. Indeed, the mullahs have done much damage. But a noble cause cannot be destroyed, and I know that none of you will let that happen.
Former French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie
Unfortunately, the international situation and the situation in Iran are critical. But in such circumstances, we need to be strong, determined, and stand in solidarity, to overcome the difficulties.
Since knowing you Mrs. Rajavi, I know that you have strong beliefs and will do what is necessary for your country to restore stability in the Middle East. We must acknowledge that the situation is deteriorating, but it also shows that the regime is weakening. It is uniting the resistance while raising questions from the outside world about this regime being a source of instability.
We see protests that are oppressed. Young men and women, old people, children, all are protesting. We see Iranian women and men stand up against the regime while risking their lives. We must admire them and support them.
Journalists and musicians are taken to court. Women are prevented from going to universities, getting jobs, practicing sports, and living as they want. We should never stop denouncing the oppression of women and men in Iran so that they can one day enjoy the same freedoms that we have.
More and more countries are denouncing the regime’s treatment of its people. The regime is weakening and we must shed light on this reality. The negative impact of the regime is evident in the region and everywhere. It prevents the region from returning to stability.
We see that Iran is more and more involved in terrorism in different countries. Intelligence services are discovering the regime’s role in terrorism. This is a signal of a regime that is weaker and weaker.
We need to support the people who risk their lives every day.
The regime’s nuclear program is a concern for everyone. The regime has stopped all its commitments toward the international community. This regime has taken further measures in recent months. It is threatening the world and the neighboring countries. It threatens to trigger a proliferation race as neighboring countries will not accept living under the threat of a nuclear Iran.
We assert that there is an alternative, and that is the plan by Maryam Rajavi. It ensures peace across the world. We need to hear this voice more and more. It is important that they know that we support them and they are right and we will help them to be the country they deserve to be.
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis
The events of the last eight months demonstrate an Iranian regime that is on the back foot as it tries to oppress its people while spreading its malign influence across the region, and it has never been clearer.
The regime in Iran does not represent the will of the Iranian people. As the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime directly supported the horrific attack on Israel on October 7th, countless Houthi-backed attacks in the Red Sea, and increased provocations by Hezbollah in northern Israel.
It’s not interested in peace or a better future.
It is only after self-preservation, but no one knows better what is needed to stand up to despotism than the people of Iran. For decades, you have fought against Tehran’s tyranny, and you have fought to ensure that the future of Iran lies with its people, not a dictatorship. The United States stands with you and your fight for freedom.
We join those in Ashraf and Iranians around the world in standing up for our shared values that unite us and drive us.
Today, we are proud to stand together to demonstrate that the people of Iran have bipartisan support in Congress for a freer, more democratic future.
US Congresswoman Nancy Mace
I want to address the brave people of Iran who are watching this moment today. Your courage, your resilience, and your unwavering pursuit of freedom and justice have not gone unnoticed, and we stand with you. The United States of America stands with you. It is up to us, the leaders of the free world, to support a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran.As true defenders of democracy, the United States will amplify your calls for freedom, for international pressure on the regime, and support your right to self-determination.
The tragic death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 sparked a worldwide outcry and outrage, and it ignited a movement led by the courageous Iranian women, many of whom are here today. Their bravery in the face of brutality has highlighted the regime’s systematic subjugation of women. We must stand with these women, amplifying their voices, but this moment has also highlighted the spirit of the Iranian people and their determination.
To the women of Ashraf 3, your fight is a testament to the enduring spirit of Iranian women who have led the charge for justice and equality. In Iran and around the world, we must also ensure the safety of all men and women in Camp Ashraf 3. They deserve the rights stipulated in the Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights, including the rights to life, liberty, security, freedom of expression, and assembly.
I’m one of many co-sponsors on the House resolution, the bipartisan House resolution H Res 1148. This resolution, which has majority support, backs the 10-point plan for the future of Iran authored by Maryam Rajavi. This plan echoes many principles we hold dear in the United States Constitution, rejecting absolute rule and affirming the people’s sovereignty and a pluralistic Republic.
Tonight, we’re sending a message to the regime in Tehran: the free world stands firmly with those who fight for liberty, for those who fight for justice, and those who fight for human dignity.
US Congressman Raul Ruiz
I am here to stand in solidarity with you, the Iranian diaspora, who have never given up hope for a free and democratic Iran. I’m here to share a collective dream with widows, parents, students, workers, women, and girls who have been killed, imprisoned, raped, tortured, and poisoned by a regime that for too long has violated their human rights as they dared to dream of freedom and equality. I am here to say that I see you, we see you, we are inspired by your courage, and we morally support your cause for freedom and democracy.For decades, Iranians have been battling with their government to become a democracy and to respect basic human rights. And after years of repression, the Iranian people saw this fight catch fire again two years ago.
We saw brave Iranians emerge into the streets to show their support in a show of solidarity and courage. And we saw Iranian women and girls, men and boys, students and workers courageously take a stand and say no more.
And today, we stand here and applaud your efforts to demand that future Iran be a democratic, free Republic of Iran. A democracy that empowers Iranians to vote and elect their own leaders in real elections, not the kind of sham election or selection that happened yesterday in Iran. And a democracy that will respect human rights, minority rights, and women’s rights, where everyone’s dignity and rights are respected under the law.
As a member of Congress, I am a proud supporter of House Resolution 1148, which expresses support for the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic and non-nuclear Republic of Iran and condemns the violations of human rights.
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton
It should be the declared policy of the government of the United States to overthrow the regime of the mullahs in Iran.I think foreign governments have to show that the regime of the mullahs is not simply oppressive to the people of Iran, but challenges their own vital national security.
We’ve got a couple of key developments since the last time we were together here. The first is the emerging Beijing-Moscow axis, of which Iran is one of the satellite countries, providing new foundational circumstances for US and other policy, and second, the events of October 7th. We see Iran selling drones to Russia to use against the Ukrainian armed forces and the people of Ukraine.
Russia and Iran are on the verge of signing what the Russians call a big treaty of international cooperation because of the unprecedented upswing in Russian-Iranian relations.
And I think that means we face, along with the danger in North Korea, the very real possibility that now Russia will simply ignore all existing sanctions, ignore decades of denials, and absolutely give nuclear and ballistic missile technological advice both to Iran and North Korea.
This weakness in the sanctions should tell us everything we need to know about what the consequences will be if we don’t resolve a policy of clear, articulated regime change.
And if all that weren’t enough, the barbaric attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7th should tell all of us that this is the way Iran treats its opponents.
But it’s not aimed just at Israel, the “little Satan.” It’s aimed at the Gulf Arab states, and ultimately it’s aimed at the United States. It pursues a policy of assassination and intimidation, not just in the Middle East, but in Europe and the United States. And it seeks to accomplish objectives far beyond the initial targeting. That’s why Iran has a nuclear weapons program. That’s why Iran is developing long-range ballistic missiles.
We have to ask, I think, some hard questions about exactly how we’re going to carry out regime change. It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s another thing to do it.
What does the opposition, the NCRI and others, what do they have to do to achieve this objective? We know that the NCRI has extraordinary networks inside Iran. I can tell you for over 20 years I have followed very closely what they’ve said about Iran’s nuclear weapons program. They have never once released information publicly that wasn’t true in every material respect.
This is a basis on which we can build to help the people of Iran achieve the objective they want, and that’s really the first principle of the opposition. This is a matter for Iranians. Others outside can do a lot to help, but this is for the benefit of the Iranian people. We’re not talking about overthrowing the government of Iran as our strategy. It’s the strategy of the people of Iran that we’re trying to help carry out.
We should look for peaceful demonstrations to accomplish this, but we should have it very clearly in mind that things don’t always turn out so well. And that to get their liberty from this oppressive authoritarian government, there may well be a need for the people of Iran to have their own capability to defend themselves and not simply be subject to repression from the regime.
Revolutions are often bloody. That’s a fact. Now, this does not mean that there needs to be force from external powers. That’s not what I’m saying at all. But the opposition can use material and financial support. It can use a lot of different kinds of support that we should provide. In particular, we should ramp back up the sanctions that have been failing these last several years.
Now some people say, you know, we can deal with the mullahs. We don’t need all this turmoil in Iran. It’s not so bad, let’s just live through it. This is false, and it’s so misleading. The people of Iran want a government by the people, of the people, for the people. And they deserve it.
Former US National Security Advisor General James Jones
We face an opportunity here when we look at this particular struggle, which is really at the epicenter of what’s going on in the Middle East, and the evidence is very clear that the epicenter of this struggle in this region is Tehran, and Tehran must be dealt with.
The regime’s proxies, directed by the IRGC, continue their destructive campaigns, creating extraordinary circumstances that challenge all freedom-loving people almost everywhere around the world.
By fueling wars and promoting violence, Tehran tries to escape from the crisis instigated by the Iranian people’s uprisings.
Today, the world recognizes that the root of the Middle Eastern conflict is the clerical regime in Tehran, now on the brink of possibly acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Could we all, once and for all, proclaim that appeasement is not a winning strategy that the regime respects? It is time for clarity, and it is time for restated determination across the international community. And may I say that with the exception of the Americans who are here, we need to do a lot more work on that in Washington.
We have never really come to grips with the truth of the history of the MEK and in our own media where that falsehood is perpetuated even today. We must convince our elected officials, and our media in particular, that that history is false. Tehran needs to know that the swelling masses yearning for a free Iran will not be silenced either inside Iran or outside Iran.
The regime knows and intensely fears what we all understand. The spirit of Mahsa Amini is alive in the youth of Iran.
Iran’s rulers, as they have likely planned from the beginning, have brazenly ignored their obligations under the JCPOA. The ongoing expansion of Iran’s nuclear program, including the illicit enriching of uranium and installation of advanced centrifuges, moves it to the brink of a nuclear weapons capability it must never obtain. Imagine how much more perilous the regional and global security situation would be and will be if the regime, the root of the Middle Eastern conflict, were armed with weapons of mass destruction.
The global community must be far, far more in support of the future envisioned by Mrs. Rajavi and the NCRI as set forth in the Ten-Point Plan. The manifesto articulates the irrepressible hopes and aspirations of the Iranian people and all of those who have laid down their lives in protest against that tyranny. In fact, so fearful is the regime of the power of ideas and ideals for which the NCRI and organized resistance stands that it has relentlessly terrorized and attacked them and their supporters.
From a global perspective, it is enlightened and visionary and worthy of support by all good men and women committed to the triumph of tolerance over hate, the triumph of self-determination and democracy over religious fascism.
Rt. Hon. David Jones, Former Minister and Member of the UK House of Commons
I’m delighted to announce today that the new initiative in Iran, the Declaration for a Free Iran 2024, has attracted the support of more than 4000 parliamentarians from 50 countries and 84 parliaments from around the world. And that includes the majority support of 34 of those parliaments, including the British House of Commons and the House of Lords.
This is an absolutely extraordinary achievement, and we must thank and congratulate all those colleagues from diverse parties right around the world for their magnificent show of support for the Iranian resistance, for President Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan, and the struggle of the resistance units for a Democratic Republic of Iran.
Over the last two decades, we have witnessed an evolution in the position of the regime in Tehran, which has developed from an obstacle to the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people to what is now one of the greatest threats to peace and security, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and in the wider world.
Despite the patent aggression that was displayed by the regime, many in the West naively believed that they could change its behavior through the exercise of dialogue and incentive. That strategy, which can only be called appeasement, simply emboldened the regime and allowed it to extend its influence both within the region and globally.
And the effect of that policy was to confer impunity on the regime while marginalizing the democratic opposition, the NCRI and the PMOI.
That strategy was wrong. It has clearly failed and should not continue. Because the Iranian people are engaged in a struggle for democratic change, and we, all of us, should support them in that aim.
I’m pleased to announce our new initiative, which was completed just before the dissolution of the British Parliament for the current general election, has been backed by 553 British MPs and peers and urges the United Kingdom government to pursue such a policy. At its heart is the call for the recognition of the Iranian people’s right to resist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC.
We also in the Committee call for the recognition of the Iranian democratic opposition and Madam Rajavi’s 10-point plan, as well as for the prosecution for crimes against humanity of those who were responsible for the 1988 massacre. And finally, we emphasize the need to proscribe the IRGC and to secure the rights of dissidents in Ashraf 3.
The future of Iran must be determined by the people of Iran who very clearly want a Democratic Republic, and that will only be achieved through an organized democratic resistance movement exemplified by Madam Rajavi and the NCRI.
We know that the surviving remnants of the Shah’s dictatorship and the theocratic regime are doing all they can to target and pursue the NCRI and the PMOI, but they don’t understand that the NCRI is the very embodiment of the will of the Iranian people and that the NCRI will prevail.
Because the brutality of the regime only strengthens the determination of the NCRI to fight even harder for the liberation of the Iranian people.
Belgian MP Kathleen Depoorter
We’re here to express our hope and enthusiasm for a free and democratic Iran, but I’m also here to express my deep concern about repression and human rights abuses in Iran, especially against women.I strongly reject Europeans’ policy of appeasement, and it has been said that they keep on doing it. They keep on supporting the regime’s hostage-taking policy, and I have to mention my country Belgium, which made a terrible mistake in releasing Assadi last year. And also the recent release of Hamid Nuri by Sweden, a criminal who killed thousands of Iranian political prisoners.
I also have to express my disapproval of the EU’s refusal to blacklist the IRGC. And this despite several resolutions that we all voted for. We voted for them in the European Parliament, in our Belgian Parliament, and every Parliament, every representative here voted for this resolution to blacklist the IRGC. But they didn’t listen to us. And I have to applaud Canada, which did so.
The release of Assadi was a big mistake, but we did something right in Belgium. As did our colleagues, we signed this joint statement, a joint statement that has also been signed by our presidents of the parties. And with this statement, we want to express our support to Mrs. Rajavi and her 10-point plan.
We also want to express our support for these many brave Resistance Units in Iran who are fighting against this repressive apparatus of the IRGC, and we reject the absurd actions of the regime against 104 members of the Iranian opposition who are now political refugees in Europe.
Their activities show the strength of the resistance and they call the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the regime. And this is what finally is going to happen.
Italian MP Naike Gruppioni
It is an honor to bring my support for Mrs. Rajavi, an important figure for human rights in Iran. She’s not just a leader but also a symbol of hope and resilience. Her fight against the Iranian regime and her vision for a free Iran are a light for the future of Iran.
She’s a symbol for the women and men of Iran. I also want to express my support for the PMOI in their struggle to establish a democratic republic.
The 10-point plan of Mrs. Rajavi underlines a free and democratic Iran, a republic in its highest idea, founded on free elections, where there is no death penalty, and based on gender equality, where everyone is free to express their ideas.
Women are the victims of this regime. We must act and not ignore it. The IRGC must be designated as a terrorist organization. The aspirations of the Iranian people are ours.
Italian Senator Giulio Terzi
Dear President Maryam Rajavi, Dear friends of the Iranian Resistance led by President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi,
I want to be with all of you today with a few words which once again want to express my unwavering support for the “Ten-Point Plan for the future of Iran”.
The Iranian people deserve democratic institutions led by great political and moral figures – Madam Rajavi – that have nothing either to do with this theocratic and dictatorial regime or with any Iranian past experience of dictatorship, repression, torture, and murder.
I also wish to convey my deepest admiration for all the People Mojahedin of Iran and their supporters who risk their lives for freedom.
In particular, I want to pay my warmest respects to an extraordinary friend of us all: Hon. Alejo Vidal Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament and founder of the international committee “In Search of Justice”.
A truly outstanding European personality who has been risking his life with the same great courage, huge dedication, and commitment as many Mojahedin freedom fighters have been doing for years and still do.
I want to stress the importance of supporting initiatives in all relevant international fora: I fully share and support the position taken by the European Parliament last April 24th, urging the EU institutions “to add the IRGC to the EU list of terrorist organizations and stresses that this decision is long overdue; highlights the fact that there have been dozens of IRGC assassinations and attempts on European soil in the past few years”, and calling “for measures to prevent any harassment or intimidation of the Iranian diaspora in the EU”.
Other parliaments have adopted significant measures in order to not only contain but also to defuse the nefarious activities of terrorism and aggression against the Iranian people and against other nations carried out by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
The most important pillar for the Iranian State is not only through its military apparatus but also through its political, financial, military, and technological ramifications which stifle the Iranian society and regional stability and prosperity.
The continuing flare-up of Hezbollah attacks makes it even more urgent the adopt of sanctions to effectively counter IRGC activities. All Iran proxies must be stopped: Hezbollah, Kataib Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
They must no longer be tools of intimidation and they must no longer act with impunity against the peoples in the Middle East and against Western democracies.
Sadly, Iran seems to enjoy a sort of immunity also thanks to the “hostage diplomacy” that the Iranian regime makes extensive use of in order to blackmail Western countries and citizens.
The international community has not learned much from the “prisoner exchange” between a Belgian citizen and diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi, who returned home as a national hero despite being convicted in 2018 by a Court in Antwerp.
What happened over the last few weeks with two prisoners’ swaps in France and especially Sweden was another blow to justice. The well-established Iranian strategy of kidnapping Western hostages has to be met with decisiveness, not with appeasement.
We will not give up our call on the EU and on each member State to include the IRGC, in its entirety, in the EU list of persons, groups, and entities involved in terrorist acts and subject to restrictive measures.
European institutions and national authorities also need to strengthen the measures to prevent and counter Iranian terrorist activities carried out through criminal Iranian proxies and agents. The terrorist State of Iran is not only involved, but it is also the main player in both bloody and violent wars for aggression in Europe and in the Middle East.
This enormous tragedy must end! That can happen only if Iran, like every other aggressor and their associates, is defeated. The terrorist State of Iran, governed by the mullahs, must be removed. Their demise will be a victory for the Iranian peace-loving people who share the commitment of the democratic nations fighting against the aggressor.
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss
I back Mrs. Rajavi and all her fantastic work in support of freedom and democracy. We need to remember that it is particularly brave to stand up for freedom and democracy in Iran, given the brutality of the regime and the repercussions that people face.
But it is of utmost importance because if we don’t fight, if we don’t make sure we’re standing up for freedom and democracy, there is a very real fear that it could be extinguished across the world. We’ve seen in recent months that what is happening in Iran isn’t just a threat to the people of Iran. It’s also a threat to the wider Middle East and the entire world.
The brutal repression of people, not being able to speak out freely, not being able to express themselves, and losing control over your own life is, of course, a very real tragedy in Iran.
But what we’ve also seen is a wider malign influence in the Middle East. Iran has been aiding attacks by Hamas on Israel and committing barbarous crimes. They’ve been funding Hezbollah, again attacking Israel. And Iran has also allegedly directed attacks on Israel itself.
What we’re seeing is the model of terrorism and brutality that has been used so cruelly against the Iranian people being exported to the region and right around the world, whether it’s taking hostages or committing atrocities. Iran has been exporting these barbaric techniques.
So it’s not just in the interests of the people of Iran to challenge the appalling actions of the regime, it’s also in all of our interests to call out what is happening in the country. And this summit is so important, it is so important to keep the flame and the idea of democracy and freedom alive.
The regime wants power and control over people’s lives. And it’s not surprising that we’re seeing in Western democracies some people on the left of politics backing the regime.
So what do we need to do? Well, we need to take a tougher line. There can be no more appeasement of Iran. There are no good intentions, there are no deals to be done. We need to step up our efforts to stop the supply of funding to the Iranian regime and increase the sanctions on the regime.
We need to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. The situation is bad now, but it will be far worse with a nuclear weapon, and Western allies and allies across the free world must take every possible action to stop that from happening.
We’ve seen the way the regime behaves within Iran and towards neighbours in the Middle East. We cannot allow this to spread any further.
We should also call out the appalling internal repression taking place in Iran, especially the repression of women, the appalling conditions in their prisons, the role of the IRGC and the appalling actions that they take, and most of all, we must be unequivocally on the side of the Iranian people. We should never, ever give up on the idea of a free and democratic Iran.
What has happened over the last year in the Middle East just proves how wrong it was to believe that the Iranian regime would change if they were encouraged. Quite the opposite has happened. They have benefited from the West not acting strongly enough.
We do face a rising threat from authoritarianism around the world. What people in Iran face is in danger of spreading elsewhere. That is why it’s so important that we act together.
Louis Freeh, Former FBI Director
Two points I want to highlight. First is the struggle for freedom by the Iranian people and the leadership, Mrs. Rajavi: the courage that you’ve shown to bring them to that goal.
The second one is accountability. I don’t think we should be thinking about a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for these war crimes, heinous war crimes that have gone on for decades. I think we should be talking about prosecutions. We should be talking about trial courts that have jurisdiction and the ability to sentence, punish, and hold people convicted accountable.
In terms of the struggle, unfortunately, we’ve heard a lot about appeasement today. Unfortunately, the US has had mostly a policy of appeasement for over 30 years.
Khobar Towers happened, as you know, in 1996. Nineteen Americans were killed. It was an IRGC Hezbollah operation run at the highest levels of the Iranian government. What happened as a result of that? We had a very difficult time convincing the administration of the Department of Justice at the time to bring a criminal case.
So, we do have a problem with our policy. We do have a problem with accountability. We need to plan now for the accountability and the bringing to justice of thousands and thousands of war criminals once the regime falls.
Michael Mukasey, Former US Attorney General
The low turnout in Friday’s election is part of a trend that started shortly after the revolution in 1979, continued through the 1980s with the massacre of thousands of people, as uprisings continued into the 90s, and culminated, of course, in 2022 with the horrible murder of Mahsa Amini and the uprising that followed.
That trend of uprisings is not alone because along with it is a trend of diminishing support for the regime, a trend of increasing economic distress, and a trend of friction even within the regime as they struggle over the succession after the death of the unlamented Raisi.
These trends can’t go on forever, and they won’t, which means that you and the NCRI have the responsibility to be prepared for what happens when we finish what the late Joe Lieberman, a good friend of the NCRI and of mine, called the unfinished business of the 20th century, that is, the toppling of the Iranian regime. When that happens, you have to be prepared.
You need a government, and you will have a government that will support that 10-point plan and make it a reality.
I want to tell you that when you do that, you will have the support not only of those gathered on this stage but also of all the institutions that they represent, of the United States government, and of the American people as you bring about a new day not only for Iran but for the entire world.
Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia (2016-2021)
These tyrants are a danger to the Iranian people. Tyrants stick together. They give each other drones and rockets. They kill their own people and people everywhere. The world should do better to isolate them.
Appeasement is one of the nastiest words. We should not appease tyrants because they come together against free people. Today, little girls in Iran cannot dream of dressing as they want. They can’t dream of being different, of studying, of contributing to their country and community. That is why they stand up for their rights.
What is the hope of the Iranian people? If you read the 10-point plan, it is simple. They want simple human rights, a country they can love, rule of law set by the Iranian people. We stand with free Iran.
Parinaz, Resistance Unit from Tehran
I dream of freedom. I took part in the 2022 uprising to achieve this dream. The regime had repressive forces to scare us. But we will continue our fight. We will come back stronger.
My choice is resistance. Women, Resistance, Freedom. Maryam Rajavi and her 10-point plan represent our dreams.
Ali, Resistance Unit from Shiraz
I have a lot of dreams. But I know that Iran must be free first. It is a tough decision and a risky path. What gives me hope and determination are the tens of thousands of people who have sacrificed their lives for this path.
They are the martyrs of the PMOI. We are fighters and we will fight against this regime.
We want a free Iran, not an Iran run by the shah or the mullahs. We want to elect our own leaders. The 10-point plan of Mrs. Rajavi is our guide.
Haleh, Resistance Unit from Tehran
Resistance Units are facing great risks. But it is the only way forward for us. We put up posters and write slogans of Iranian Resistance leadership. We set fire to pictures of regime leaders.
We are determined to create a different future for our country. We want to pave the way for another uprising. We are fighting for a democratic republic of Iran. Every risk we take is with the hope of such a future.
John Bercow, Former Speaker of the British House of Commons
I am here for one reason and one reason only, and that is to place on the record, as passionately and informatively as I can, my unqualified support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran as an institution, and for the quite extraordinary heroism of Mrs. Rajavi, which requires no debate or elaboration, and of the resistance fighters themselves, who daily exhibit courage to burn, courage to burn, courage to burn, to take the risks they do, knowing that the next day could be their last.
We have all described the evil of the Iranian regime, but I think it does warrant the briefest of underlinings. By what is that regime characterized? Mass murder, frequent extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate incarceration of people who dare to take a view that differs from that of the mullahs, and beyond those top-level, egregious, and unforgivable abuses of human rights, the daily fact of life under this bigoted theocratic dictatorship is barbarity, bestiality, and brutality. They haven’t got the mental headspace, the absence of prejudice, or the scope of imagination to suppose that there can be another way to run a country.
The often unstated but implicit assumption and conviction that the role of governments, and indeed of parliaments and of individual Members of Parliament, is to serve their peoples. This is a concept entirely unknown, indeed alien, to the misogynist bigots who predominate in Tehran. They simply don’t look at it like that. They’re not there to serve. They’re there to cow, to subjugate, to dominate, and to terrorize their people. And they’ve been doing it for 45 years.
I think the message should go out loudly and clearly to the regime: Your number will be up. You will not get away with it. You cannot, must not, and will not be allowed to perpetrate these appalling crimes against humanity with impunity. The time will come, and I think the time is hastening when you, the representatives of that regime, will be hauled before the International Criminal Court to answer for your despicable, wanton crimes against your own people.
And, of course, part of that bereft imagination seems to have been communicated to and sadly absorbed by people in the international community who don’t like the regime but have foolishly and naively come to be persuaded by the regime’s TINA mantra. TINA stands for “There is no alternative.” Oh, yes, there is an alternative, ladies and gentlemen. And let’s talk about what that alternative is.
The alternative to the wanton killing of people is to stop the wanton killing of people. It’s not very difficult. It’s not very complicated. In fact, it’s a very easy concept to grasp. Stop killing people, stop terrorizing people, and also stop trying to intimidate people by giving them the impression that you think they’re really rather stupid. The people of Iran are not stupid. The people of Iran have sussed out this regime. The people of Iran have shown it by their mass abstention from the parliamentary and presidential elections. The reason why they’ve gone from mass abstention and boycott is not that they are in a state of undiluted bliss about this regime, but because they feel utter, undiluted, unreserved contempt for the way in which the regime abuses its own people.
Amongst these six clearly pre-picked candidates for the presidency, none of them is a liberty lover. None of them is a democrat. None of them is on the side of the Iranian people. The only way we will discover for sure who is on the side of the Iranian people is by allowing the opportunity for the free and fair expression of the public will.
And that’s what causes me to turn, if I may, to Mariam Rajavi’s 10-point plan. The philosophy and the intended policy program of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. It is, in fact, one of the most eloquent, articulate, and comprehensive statements of an alternative that any democrat could wish to see.
That is the alternative. Let it be put to the test.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran has been making this argument time and time and time again, with ever-increasing force and eloquence and manifest evidence of widespread public support, which the regime has chosen not to respect but to crush. In seeking to crush, they have unfortunately been aided and abetted by those more dim-witted members of the international community whose philosophy is appeasement.
My friends, ladies and gentlemen, appeasement stinks. We’re not arguing for military action. Let there be a rigorous sanctions policy applied with fixity of purpose and clear consistency. Let us support and equip those who want to fight for their freedom within. Let’s make it clear to the mullahs that when they are ousted, they will be brought to book.
Bernard Kouchner, Former Foreign Minister of France
It’s important to convey the anger of the people. Each year, we praise you for your struggle and your strong community. This is a complicated moment in our country. Compared to a few years ago, things have changed in your country. There have been victims, and my thoughts are with them. But also, you’ve shown strength and courage in protesting, especially from the women. They are dedicated to changing their country. I hope this will last, and I know that women will keep fighting for regime change.
I also know that there is a new order in the world, between Iran, Russia, and China, along with North Korea. This coalition is dangerous, and even more than that, it is an axis that will keep fighting democracies. Dictatorships are uniting, and they have no intention to stop.
We will have to fight together. We will have to find new ways to do politics because there will be more victims. Ukraine is suffering daily, and we aren’t supporting them enough. I admire you and know that many French people do too. I would like to congratulate you for your devotion.
Baroness O’Loan, Member of the British House of Lords
The regime in Tehran stands at its weakest. It’s grappling with internal crises it cannot resolve. Its foreign policy tactics—hostage taking, diplomacy, cyber attacks, and state-sponsored terrorism—have not only destabilized the whole region, but they have also extended their reach into the streets of Europe, exporting persecution and repression to silence Iranian dissidents and their supporters.
For four decades, the regime has come to power through destruction and bloodshed. We have seen such tragedy, such violence, such terror. Yet despite all that, despite the brutality, despite the mobilization of the resources of the whole state for oppression, look at what happened yesterday. Eighty-eight percent of your people did not turn out to vote.
What courage, ladies and gentlemen, to resist the repression and the threats of the regime and to refuse to go out and vote. I think it is symbolic of that great state of courage in which the Iranian people live, despite the repression which the regime imposes. And I notice the force of the women of Iran. The force I am very proud to stand with today. These brave women are at the forefront of the protests.
They have resisted the most gruesome and horrible tortures, even when their sisters are executed. Just as the brave Madam Rajavi did and continues to do and has done with such courage for so long. These acts of defiance and resistance are inspired and made possible by the women in the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the PMOI. They are the culmination of women’s active role in the struggle for democracy, freedom, and equality in Iran for the last century.
Maryam’s democratic platform and the brave Iranian women will guarantee that no other imposter posing as opposition to the regime in Iran, be it in Washington or from within the ruling dictatorship, will be able to hijack the Iranian people’s coming democratic revolution.
The regime’s relentless attacks against Maryam and against the NCRI, the smear campaigns, the terror plots, the kangaroo courts in Tehran, serve only to validate the effectiveness and legitimacy of the NCRI.
Today, ladies and gentlemen, Iranian women fully declare their refusal to accept second-class citizenship and misogyny. The rallying cry “Women, Resistance, Freedom” echoes their unwavering commitment to reclaiming their country from the repressive regime.
Next Thursday, the United Kingdom will have a new government. We will have our elections, and there will be a new government. I call on that government to do two important things immediately: to proscribe the IRGC and to allow Madame Rajavi to come to our Parliament to address us on the campaign for a free Iran.
Natalia Gavrilita, Former Prime Minister of Moldova
The death of Raisi and the sham elections have created a pivotal moment for change in Iran. The people said no to the regime by refusing to vote in the regime’s election. Iran’s regime is sending drones to kill people in Ukraine. The regime is sponsoring terrorism around the world. The regime is undermining the desire for democracy globally.
Appeasement does not work. Appeasement is not deterrence. We must stand with those who are fighting for their freedom.
The Iranian diaspora has a crucial role to play in the democratic aspirations of their homeland. Your activities are a catalyst for change. Show up at events like this. Your contribution is important.
Madam Rajavi’s example is inspiring women and girls in Iran. We need to recognize that these women are not just fighting for gender equality. They are fighting for freedom for all.
The path to freedom is never easy, but it is always worth pursuing. You are not alone in your struggle. Your courage, resilience, and commitment to freedom and democracy are inspiring.
Gary Peters, US Senator (D-MI)
For decades, the Iranian regime has been directly responsible for mass executions of political prisoners and violently suppressed peaceful protests while attacking democratic values. Today, we honor the victims of these horrific acts, as well as those still imprisoned for their political beliefs.
All people deserve the right to choose their own government and live free from political violence. In the United States Senate, I was proud to support a resolution protecting Iranian political refugees, including female political prisoners who are now residing at Ashraf 3 in Albania.
We must ensure that these individuals are protected against Iranian threats and afforded their fundamental freedoms.
Ted Cruz, US Senator (R-TX)
As you know, Iran’s leaders are terrified of dissidents, and as we stand together, united in the fight for freedom, we wield the power to dismantle this totalitarian government’s assault on our democratic principles.
It’s no secret that Iran has committed countless acts of terror and aggression, threatening the lives of Iranian citizens and foreigners. This is why I was proud to co-sponsor a resolution calling for the protection of Iranian political refugees in Ashraf 3.
These brave Iranian dissidents must be afforded their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The Iranian people deserve the right to choose legitimate leaders who respect their dignity and individual liberty.
#FreeIran2024 World Summit Onward to a Democratic Republic Freedom-loving Iranians Rally in Berlin June 29, 2024, 2.30 p.m. CEST #MaryamRajavi4FreeIran #BerlinDemoJune29https://t.co/PbQ2bq9xzT
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) June 29, 2024
John Baird, former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
You know, today is a day for moral clarity. I hope the courage of the resistance units, the courage that the women of Iran have shown over the last two years, I hope it inspires Western governments around the world to resist the pressure to simply go along, to get along. That is a wrong approach. We have known one thing for the last 50 years, accommodation and appeasement are a recipe for failure in containing the mullahs in Iran.
If we truly want to confront this regime, if we truly want to tackle the problem of its nuclear program, the problem of its export of terrorism in every part of the region and even in other parts of the world, if we want to first and foremost to tackle its brutal repression of democracy activists, its brutal human rights record in Iran, we must be vocal, we must be clear morally and we must stand up aggressively.
That means no business as usual. In Canada, I’m so proud, I think we’re all proud coming from different political parties that Canada was one of the first countries to break off diplomatic relations with Iran and say it will not be business as usual.
Every year, successive governments of Canada confront Iran’s abysmal human rights record at the UN and make it very, very uncomfortable for the mullahs, henchmen, and spokespeople at the UN to sit aside and hope no one is watching.
And we’re also very, very proud that after many, many years, Canada has finally designated the IRGC as an international terrorist organization.
With strength and determination, we can win. I want to again say how inspired we are of all of you outside of Iran and particularly the people inside Iran who have shown such courage and such determination to break off the shackles of the mullahs. It truly is inspiring.
This regime is teetering on its last legs and the end is near. Keep up the fight.
Judy Sgro, Canadian MP
I can also tell you that I’m amazingly happy that it was my government that actually, two weeks ago, labeled the IRGC as a terrorist organization. I can only imagine if this is being broadcast and the mullahs and all the other folks in Iran are watching this and shaking in their boots, realizing the whole world is supporting NCRI.
So, Madam Rajavi and your wonderful group, and to all of the wonderful men and women in Ashraf 3, that I look forward to having another opportunity to see you soon to say thank you. Keep up the good work that you’re doing.
Enda Kenny, Former Prime Minister of Ireland
You are competing with a lot of other difficulties for attention globally. We’re privileged to be here to support you. Our problem is with the regime, not the people. Nobody should underestimate the importance of this conference. Iran is too big to ignore, too strategic to neglect, and too unpredictable to forget. If you go back to your homes and your constituencies in your countries after this and do nothing and you come back next year, it hasn’t been a success.
This regime has been around since the ’70s. The people will not give up. The end will come. You’ve done a great job, but this needs to be revved up because the regime is not going to give up. They’re going to resist pressure, as they have done for the last 50 years.
The tools for sorting this out are available. The message to the people in Iran is that it takes courage and resilience. It’s that courage and resilience that will bring about an end to this theocratic regime.
It’s obvious that sanctions haven’t worked. That’s why it’s critical that the message to the Iranian people is to keep doing what you’re doing, and the message to the Iranian diaspora worldwide is one that says you need to implement and assist with authority from outside.
Carlo Ciccoli, Former MP from Italy
You know what is happening in Iran. The death of Raisi might not have been an accident. The elections had a very low turnout, less than 9%. It shows what the public opinion thinks about the regime. Just six candidates were qualified, a symbol of dictatorship. I feel that we are in the last chapter of the Iranian dictatorship. The people of Iran have the right to live in freedom.
Raffaele Speranzon, Member of the Senate from Italy
I would like to express my support, along with that of the parliamentarians, for your cause of freedom. You have the backing of people around the world. You are fighting for the rights of everyone. Italy has always been a defender of freedom. I’m delighted to announce that the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies have issued a statement in support of a free and secular Iran.
In the past 40 years, the appeasement policy has only helped the regime destabilize the region with its terrorist activities. In 2023, there were more than 850 executions in Iran. Why are international newspapers and media silent and not sharing this important information with our citizens? The people of Iran are fed up with this dictatorship.
We know that there is an alternative to this dictatorship, and it is the NCRI led by Maryam Rajavi. It represents values shared by all individuals. She calls for free elections, gender equality, respect for freedom of expression, and democracy. We should recognize this and support them in their struggle against the theocratic regime.
Emanuelis Zingeris, Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Thank you for upholding the image of Islam in Europe and across the world. On the other hand, there are terrorist groups attempting to justify their actions under the guise of Islam.
You embody diversity and human rights. We stand with you and extend an invitation to join the Council of Europe. Your presence should be felt in every European parliament to advocate for your cause.
Europe must formally document the crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian regime at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
We strongly oppose our government’s exchanging killers sent by the Iranian regime to assassinate you. We will take every measure to prevent the regime from taking our people hostage. Trading killers for prisoners will only embolden the regime to take more hostages.
Ingrid Betancourt, former Senator and Presidential candidate of Colombia
It is moving to see how this group of people supporting you from around the world is growing. We can see dark clouds on the horizon, but I would like to share a more optimistic vision. When things are not going well, that is when change happens.
In yesterday’s election, the Iranian population refused to show up and participate in this sham of an election. They said loud and clear that the people of Iran do not want the world to deal with the regime.
I know that the coming change will be brought by women. In this turning point that is happening, it is important to follow what is happening in Iran. Iran’s regime is on the verge of extinction. They are coming to an end.
We want to support, help, and commit to all Iranian women and men who didn’t go to the polls yesterday—those freedom fighters who are the reason we are gathered today. We believe in them and know that their fate is ours. Our fate is linked to what happens in Iran, and the end of terrorism that strikes here in Europe. World peace depends on your victory.
We have heard a lot about appeasement, but we must not forget that this appeasement policy is the result of a narrative pushed by a network of the Iranian intelligence service to manipulate our governments and neutralize our democracies. Above all, it aims to stop any effort to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear bombs. They are buying time and preventing our governments from supporting the Iranian opposition.
The argument they put forward is that we should not support any leader in Iran because it is up to the Iranian people to decide who will rule their country. And that is true, and it is at the heart of the 10-point plan.
But there is a consensus that we need international support if we want change. That’s why the Iranian regime has deployed an aggressive strategy to disseminate false information about the NCRI, the MEK, and Iranian freedom fighters. A few weeks ago, we in France were surprised to read in Le Monde, the most important newspaper in France, an article that seemed like a dictation from the IRGC. All the lies of the regime were summarized by Le Monde. The campaign is aggressive, but it did not deter anyone from being here today.
It is important to understand why the regime puts so much effort into stopping our support. First, it’s because if we succeed in obtaining official support from governments, it sends a message as powerful as a nuclear bomb. It means game over. Because Maryam Rajavi has given hope to the Iranian people. And hope among leaders in dictatorial regimes is what they fear most.
Another reason is that the support we give to the resistance is evidence of the sheer failure of the regime. It means that the money they spent, the years they spent, their disinformation and slandering campaigns, their bribery and corruption of journalists have failed, and the resistance is as strong as ever. It is the major contender and the only organization that can overthrow this regime.
The resistance has also deployed significant efforts to expose the regime’s nuclear plots. Perpetrators of torture and mass killings will be brought to justice. The Resistance Units have been spreading. They are stronger than ever. They are thousands of people who want to put an end to tyranny.
Today, the international support is immense. In France, the majority of the congress supports the 10-point plan. In the US as well. This is not a coincidence. We all know that there is no action more important in the world than preserving our democracies and values and uniting around the world for the liberation of the Iranian people. The dictatorship in Iran is our biggest enemy.
Avdullah Hoti, Former Prime Minister of Kosovo
History tells us that all oppressive regimes eventually fail. You are the only hope for millions of people in Iran. We must be clear that all individuals responsible for human rights abuses will be punished.
The resistance in Iran is stronger today. God supports those who pursue justice. It is time to think about organizing the people of Iran after their freedom. Let us work together and ensure our governments support freedom and democracy in Iran.
Dominique Attias, Chair of the Board of Directors at the European Lawyers Foundation
I am angry at the civil society. Stop the blackmail. Stop the terrorism. I commend the courage of the NCRI in the face of the inaction of the Western world. We’re here to say ‘stop’ to our Western governments. End the blackmail and stop bowing to the regime’s coercion. Show political courage. Stand for a free world. As European leaders, stop shaming yourselves.
The people don’t want a Europe that lacks courage. You won’t improve your situation by bowing to terrorists. The mullahs only need to kidnap Swedish or Belgian nationals and suddenly justice disappears. The terrorist who was freed was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism. Now he is a hero in Iran’s regime. You are becoming complicit in these actions. You are becoming complicit in the murder attempt against the former vice president of the European Parliament.
When will you put the IRGC on the terrorist list as Canada did? This measure would deprive the Iranian regime of financing terrorism across the world. How many people should die before you react?
It is just that the Iranian people can choose their future without foreign interference. It is also just to not turn a blind eye to all these women who have been tortured and killed for freedom.
Aren’t you ashamed when you see all these women in prison? But from this injustice rises the courage of all people across Iran, who are ready to rise up again when the time is right.
The women of Iran and PMOI have set an example of never surrendering. Maryam Rajavi is the spearhead of this resistance. And we see many wonderful young people who are very brave. Those who have a brave heart can do anything. This motto fits your movement very well: Women, Resistance, Freedom.
Michael Tetzschner, Norwegian MP
A majority of my colleagues, members of the Norwegian Parliament, have recently supported and signed the Declaration of Support for Freedom and Human Rights in Iran.
There is growing concern over human rights conditions in Iran. The number of executions is alarming, reaching its highest level since 2015. Hostage-taking seems to have become a norm of conduct for the Iranian regime in Europe. Two EU states have exchanged convicted criminals for innocent citizens taken as hostages. We condemn the regime’s hostage-taking policy.
The fate of Iran will affect the security of Europe. Iran is a mastermind of international terrorism. It is not enough to stop the regime’s proxies; the mullahs’ regime must be brought down. Given the current circumstances, there is consensus that we must reconsider our policy toward Iran. The West must cooperate with the Iranian Resistance, particularly the NCRI. We support Mrs. Rajavi’s 10-point plan.
Kira Rudik, Ukrainian MP, Vice President of ALDE, leader of Golos Party
It is important that we come together for the future of our nations. Today marks 857 days since the full-scale invasion started and more than 10 years since Russia attacked us for the first time. They have committed all kinds of war crimes and have almost destroyed our energy infrastructure. They have killed so many of our people, both at the front and peacefully sleeping in their homes. But there is one thing they couldn’t do. They could not bring darkness into our hearts, and they absolutely cannot break our spirits.
In the last year, Iran’s regime has sent thousands of drones to Russia, which they sent to Ukraine to destroy everything. So your victory is also important to us because it means that we will be able to survive and win this fight.
About two years ago, I first went to Ashraf 3 and met Mrs. Rajavi. One very important point she made was about how wars usually take much longer than one would anticipate and how you have to build the resilience of your people because it is very hard, year after year.
We Ukrainian people still have it in ourselves—not only to keep fighting but also to win the war. And we know that we can do it. And we know that we can do it only if democracy is winning in all the other places in the world. We are the living example of how unity helps you to go through the darkest times in your history and have hope in the most devastating pages of your life.
For me, all the things that I have heard and learned from Mrs. Rajavi have been such an amazing inspiration.
Glory to Ukraine and glory to a free Iran.
Pleased to deliver a speech on the importance of holistic approach to resisting tyrannical regimes. Thank you@Maryam_Rajavi for gathering so many politicians to make our voice heard 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/x2JcBwGY0M
— Kira Rudik (@kiraincongress) June 30, 2024
Linda Chavez, Former Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
How is it that, in the United States, we could never get a Democrat and a Republican to sit down and agree on anything? Yet, we have representatives from both parties who come here to Paris to support Madam Rajavi and her cause.
At the end of the day, we do things that are in our own self-interest. And I thought about that in relation to this cause. The suffering of the 90 million people in Iran is truly important. The fact that half of that population is not even treated as full citizens with full human rights is something we should care about. But there’s another reason we come together to support this cause: Iran and its leadership are a threat to all of us.
We heard from Kira about the drones carrying bombs and dropping them in Ukraine, killing men, women, and children. Iran’s support for the Houthis disrupts shipping lines, affecting the supply chain in many countries, including the United States, by stopping ships in the Red Sea.
We don’t have to look very far to see an example of a terrible atrocity partly supported by the Iranian regime, such as the activities of Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East. One of the reasons we are able to come together despite our different cultures, languages, and interests is because we have a shared interest in stopping Iran, which is now part of a new axis of evil.
To Supreme Leader Khamenei, it doesn’t really matter who’s picked as the head of Iran in the election because the election doesn’t truly determine the leader; it is the supreme leader and the ruling mullahs who hold the power.
We must be aware that achieving regime change in Iran is not just about improving the lives of the 90 million people in Iran, although that is important. It is also crucial for the rest of the world to understand that without regime change in Iran, we will face a nuclear-armed Iran. It won’t just be drones dropping conventional weapons in places like Ukraine; it will be nuclear threats against countries. The export of terrorism we see around the world will escalate with the possibility of nuclear weapons being sold or given to terrorist groups.
So, it is worthwhile to remember that this struggle and what happens in Iran are absolutely crucial, not just to the Iranian people, but to all of us. The reason we support the NCRI and Madam Rajavi is that she represents a different worldview—a worldview that believes individual freedom and democracy will bring a more peaceful world. It will not only grant rights to the people of Iran but also ensure that Iran is no longer a threat to the world.
By clicking on the link below, you can see the Grand Rally in Berlin that was held at the same time as the Free Iran 2024 World Summit:
Grand Rally of Free Iran 2024 in Berlin—June 29, 2024
By clicking on the link below, you can see the Free Iran 2024 World Summit–Day 2 that was held on June 30, 2024:
Free Iran 2024 World Summit: The Roadmap of Iranian Resistance for a Democratic Republic – Day2
By clicking on the link below, you can see the Free Iran 2024 World Summit–Day 3 that was held on July 1, 2024:
Free Iran 2024 World Summit: Crimes Against Humanity and Accountability for Perpetrators – Day 3
