Washington, D.C. | April 8, 2025 — In a powerful display of bipartisan unity, key U.S. lawmakers, diplomats, military experts, and national security officials gathered at the U.S. Senate for a policy luncheon titled “Iran Policy.” They voiced unwavering support for the Iranian people’s right to challenge dictatorship, emphasizing the critical role of the organized Iranian Resistance movement in achieving change.
The event marked the official unveiling of Senate Resolution 145, sponsored by Senator Thom Tillis and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, with 14 initial co-sponsors. The resolution calls for safeguarding members of Ashraf 3, the Iranian Resistance’s base in Albania, and recognizing their right to engage in political activism.
Bipartisan leaders came together at today’s Senate Event “IRAN POLICY: Countering Tehran’s War and Terror”
Speakers included @Maryam_Rajavi @CoryBooker @RoyBlunt @SenatorShaheen @LBJunior and General James Jones ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fK7rVOmJOJ
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) April 8, 2025
In a video message titled “A Decisive Strategy Relying on the Iranian People and the Iranian Resistance,” Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), opened the event by thanking the resolution’s sponsors, Senators Tillis and Shaheen, along with all 14 co-sponsors. “On behalf of the Iranian people and the Resistance, I express our gratitude,” she said.
Mrs. Rajavi outlined two policy options: appeasement and reform, which she described as “failed policies,” or a strategy that empowers the Iranian people and the Resistance. “The correct strategy to end the regime’s threats is one that depends on the Iranian people and the Resistance. This strategy is already being carried out by a force with a presence on the ground—young, dedicated, and organized individuals led by the MEK,” she stated.
She cautioned against the misinformation aimed at delegitimizing the Resistance, pointing out, “The regime falsely claims that no alternative exists, using remnants of the former dictatorship to spread lies. But this very Resistance has been confronting the IRGC on the ground for 46 years.”
Mrs. Rajavi reiterated the Resistance’s core principle: “We do not seek money, weapons, or foreign troops. What the people of Iran expect from the world is recognition of their right to resist.” She concluded with a powerful call to action: “The U.S. Senate has the opportunity to take a historic step by passing a bill that recognizes the Resistance Units’ right to fight against the IRGC and overthrow the regime.”
Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco and a long-time foreign policy advisor to the late Senator Edward Kennedy, moderated the event. He emphasized the gravity of the moment, saying, “Behind this Iranian theo-military dictatorship is a decaying facade, on the verge of collapse.” He added, “A new strategy, led by democratic forces within Iran and supported by international democratic forces, is crucial, with the leadership of Maryam Rajavi and the NCRI driving the charge.”
Ambassador Ginsberg also referenced the 2018 Paris rally, where nearly 200,000 people gathered from across the world, and the regime’s failed terrorist plot to disrupt the event.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Democratic Caucus, lauded the courage of Ashraf 3 residents and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to their cause: “We are once again introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing the people of Ashraf 3. We must persist in our efforts to ensure a nuclear-free Iran.”
She praised the residents’ resilience: “Your bravery has remained steadfast, despite oppression, threats, and indifference.”
Senator Cory Booker passionately emphasized the moral imperative of the issue: “This is a question of right or wrong, not left or right. The courage of the Iranian people who stand for justice—despite torture and imprisonment—should inspire all of us.”
He concluded with a hopeful message: “One day, we will celebrate the freedom of the Iranian people, with a nation guided by democratic principles.”
Senator Roy Blunt, a long-time advocate for the Iranian Resistance, stressed the importance of supporting internal change and protests in Iran. “The people of Ashraf stand for democracy, but it’s equally vital that we support protests in Iran,” he said, highlighting the youth’s central role. “Two-thirds of Iran’s population is under 40, and they are demanding more. Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan offers the future they deserve.”
General James Jones, former U.S. National Security Advisor and NATO Supreme Allied Commander, offered a strong endorsement of the NCRI and its Resistance Units. “The NCRI is the most organized, principled opposition to the regime, and they’ve fought for a democratic, non-nuclear Iran for over 40 years,” he said. He praised the Resistance’s grassroots actions and intelligence efforts, noting their role in gathering accurate information on Iran’s nuclear program and terrorist activities.
General Jones also lauded Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a clear blueprint for transitioning from theocracy to democracy, underscoring that supporting the Resistance aligns with U.S. strategic interests.
Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, condemned Western misinterpretations of Iran and the Resistance. “Every false narrative against the Resistance has been thoroughly debunked,” he asserted. “Anyone who denies the NCRI’s relevance in Iran’s future is either ignorant or complicit in supporting the clerical dictatorship.”
He called for immediate policy hearings and formal U.S. recognition of the Resistance’s legitimacy, saying, “The time to stand with the Iranian people is now.”
