Congressman Don Bacon (R.) is the U.S. Representative for Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district, addressed at the Free Iran World Summit 2021 on July 10, 2021.

Dear Friends at the “2021 Free Iran Conference,”

I am honored to be here with you today, in this global forum, to declare my support for democracy and human rights in Iran and express my solidarity with the Iranian people. Iranians have endured a lot in the last forty years: From brutal suppression and trampling of their basic rights, to losing many of their children during peaceful street protests, and to losing hundreds of thousands of their compatriots to COVID-19 because of the Iranian leader’s indifference and incompetence in dealing with pandemic. 

I am proud to be one of the original co-sponsors of H. Res. 118, which expresses support for the Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear republic. This resolution has over 240 bipartisan co-sponsors in the US Congress, which demonstrates the will of the representatives of American people in supporting a democratic and free Iran.

As stated in this resolution, tens of thousands of people gathered in Paris at the Free Iran gathering to show support for the opposition leader Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for the future of Iran, which calls for the universal right to vote, free elections, a market economy, advocates for gender, religious, and ethnic equality, a foreign policy based on peaceful coexistence, and a nonnuclear Iran.

The recent sham election is another indication of the regime’s unabated disregard for the rule of law and democratic process. I believe US policy towards Iran must be based on our commitment to human and women’s, religious, and minority rights, and our unwavering support for the establishment of a democratic republic in Iran.

I thank you for the opportunity you gave me to address you today and I wish you the best in your mission to bring about meaningful change in Iran.

May God bless you all.