{"id":19722,"date":"2020-11-24T23:22:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?p=19722"},"modified":"2020-11-24T23:22:02","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:22:02","slug":"mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/articles\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#8217;s democratic future is closer than before"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<!--?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"--><html><body><p>Mitchell Reiss, Director of Policy Planning at the Department of State (2003-2005), U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland (2003-2007), virtually attended an <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/2020\/11\/10\/iranian-opposition-marks-first-anniversary-of-november-protests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online conference<\/a>, marking the first anniversary of the November 2019\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iranfocus.com\/en\/tag\/iran-november-2019-protests\/\">uprising<\/a>. The event hosted by the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-protests\/live-report-online-conference-marking-anniversary-of-iran-protests\/\" target=\"_blank\">NCRI<\/a>) homaged the Iranian people\u2019s sacrifices for a free and democratic Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Mitchell Reiss Addresses Online Conference Marking Anniversary of Iran Protests - November 10, 2020\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7Q1tqC1uesE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hundreds of thousands of outrage protesters came into the streets, showing their complaint against the sudden rise of gasoline prices. However, the regime\u2019s security forces responded to defenseless demonstrators with live ammunition, killing at least\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/i\/iran-protests-opposition-pmoi-gas-price-hikes-day-32-20191216\">1,500 protesters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a few days, the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other oppressive forces did whatever they could to stifle protests, according to the supreme leader\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/irannewsupdate.com\/news\/general\/who-is-irans-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ali Khamenei<\/a>\u2018s decree. They arbitrarily detained over 12,000 demonstrators, targeted protesters, and bystanders by heavy machineguns, snipers, and helicopters. However, they merely fueled the people\u2019s wrath against the entire regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his remarks at the NCRI virtual event, Amb. Mitchell Reiss expressed her solidarity with the Iranian people\u2019s desire. He said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for inviting me to speak with you once more.\u202f It is a great privilege to be associated with your efforts to bring democracy and freedom to Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, I would like to pay my sincerest condolences to all those who laid down their lives one year ago, during the November 2019 uprising that took place across Iran, in more than 190 cities, and in all 31 provinces. \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These individuals sacrificed their lives in a righteous cause.\u202f The initial spark for the protests may have been an increase in gasoline prices, but your grievances are far larger and more significant.\u202f They address the very nature of the illegitimate regime in Tehran itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These protests took place because the Iranian people only wish what people all over the world wish for \u2013 the basic human right to live in freedom, to raise your family without fear, to elect honest officials who will represent your best interests and not steal from you, and to live a life of dignity.\u202f \u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You and your colleagues all over Iran have made it clear that you want a change from this illegitimate regime. \u202fNationwide protests were a way to show this regime \u2014 and the world \u2013 that your cause is just and that you will prevail.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your courage and bravery in the face of the regime\u2019s violence and repression are inspiring.\u202f At least\u202f1,500 protesters\u202fwere massacred on the streets.\u202f Over 4,000 were wounded and at least 12,000 arrested.\u202f The\u202fNew York Times\u202f reported that the IRGC and other security forces committed mass atrocities by using deadly force against unarmed civilians.\u202f The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that the regime violated international law and engaged in \u201cserious violations of human rights.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Afterward, Amb. Mitchell Reiss highlighted definite truths regarding the Iranian regime\u2019s conditions<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does all this tell us?\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It tells us\u00a0that\u00a0this is a regime that once more revealed its true nature in how it responded to the protests.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that is fundamentally weak and unsure of itself, not strong and self-confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that does not respect the lives of its own citizens.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that does not trust its own citizens to know the truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that resorts to violence to silence the voices of the people.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that blames others for its own failures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that is corrupt and a massive violator of human rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that is irreformable and incapable of serving the people of Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that\u202ffears its own people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Above all, this is a regime that fears the MEK [<a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/i\/iran-irgc-pmoi-mek-uprisings-20191105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mojahedin<\/a>-e Khalq Organization] and what it stands for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a regime that fears Madame\u00a0Rajavi\u00a0especially, and her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maryam-rajavi.com\/en\/viewpoints\/tomorrow-s-iran\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ten-point plan<\/a> to bring democracy, true representative government and the rule of law to Iran.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, this is a regime that has grossly mismanaged the <a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/t\/iran-coronavirus-crisis1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Covid-19 pandemic<\/a>.\u202f Initially, the mullahs denied and covered up the extent of the pandemic, losing valuable time and ensuring that more Iranians would suffer and die.\u202f Their subsequent incompetence in dealing with the crisis is stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Johns Hopkins University, almost 700,000 Iranians have been infected with the virus and\u00a0tens of thousands\u00a0have died, but these numbers could well understate the true costs of Tehran\u2019s mismanagement.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there are no signs that the mullahs have learned how to do better over time.\u202f This past Saturday saw a new daily record of almost 10,000 people infected with the virus.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On this anniversary of the November 2019 uprising, and at a time of transition in the United States from the Trump to the Biden Administration, it is useful to reflect\u00a0back\u00a0on recent trends and developments over the past few years, and what they suggest for the struggle between the Iranian people and the ruling theocracy in Tehran.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From my perspective, the forces of freedom are gaining strength both inside and outside Iran, while the forces of repression are weakening.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mitchell Reiss reminded:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only a few short years ago, members of the MEK were isolated at Camp Ashraf and under attack from the mullahs\u2019 allies.\u202f Today, these brave men and women are safely in Albania, under the protection of a sympathetic government and the laws and security forces of the European Union.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only a few short years ago, the regime in Tehran tried to blow up a peaceful gathering of the opposition in Paris.\u202f But the terrorists were apprehended before they could strike.\u202f They are now on trial for the entire world to see once more that the regime in Tehran does not hesitate to use terror to silence its enemies, even on European soil.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only a few short years ago, the Iranian regime had an ambitious 5-year development plan.\u202f Today,\u202fIran\u2019s economy is in tatters, undergoing a third consecutive year of recession.\u202f According to the World Bank, the country\u2019s\u202freal Gross Domestic Product contracted by\u00a0almost 7 percent in 2019\/20, with revenues from oil falling by\u00a0almost 40 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The accumulation of economic sanctions, along with the ongoing impact of Covid-19, means that the economy is projected to decrease by another 4.5 percent in the coming year.\u202f Inflation has accelerated, placing even more pressure on vulnerable households.\u202f This is not a regime that knows\u00a0to run a modern\u00a0economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the past few years, the United States has not emphasized human rights as one of its foreign policy priorities.\u202f I am confident that the incoming Biden Administration will speak out forcefully about human rights.\u202f This change will not be welcomed by dictators around the world, and especially by the mullahs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And perhaps most importantly, only a few short years ago, the MEK was discredited widely in the United States and Europe, the subject of a long disinformation campaign.\u202f But the situation has changed\u00a0dramatically. Today the MEK is recognized as a legitimate political organization representing a large section of the Iranian population and the leading organisation to bring about peaceful change in Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In sum, the heroic protests we witnessed last year are part of larger trends that are strengthening the opposition and weakening the regime in Tehran.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA democratic future for Iran is closer today than before\u2026 Please know that\u00a0all\u00a0freedom-loving people the world over all stand with you,\u201d Amb. Mitchell Reiss said addressing the Iranian people inside the country and abroad.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mitchell Reiss, Director of Policy Planning at the Department of State (2003-2005), U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland (2003-2007), virtually attended an online conference, marking the first anniversary of the November 2019\u00a0uprising. The event hosted by the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) homaged the Iranian people\u2019s sacrifices for a free and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19724,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,17],"tags":[33,641],"class_list":["post-19722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities-outside-iran","category-articles","tag-iran-protests","tag-iranian-opposition-online-conference"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#039;s democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi&#039;s ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#039;s democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi&#039;s ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"750\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"375\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\"},\"headline\":\"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#8217;s democratic future is closer than before\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1267,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Iran Protests\",\"Iranian Opposition Online Conference\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Activities Outside Iran\",\"Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/\",\"name\":\"Mitchell Reiss: Iran's democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00\",\"description\":\"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg\",\"width\":750,\"height\":375,\"caption\":\"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/activities-outside-iran\\\/2020\\\/11\\\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\\\/19722\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#8217;s democratic future is closer than before\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"description\":\"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy &amp; Equality\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"width\":251,\"height\":78,\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/4FreedominIran\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/author\\\/iran-freedom2\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran's democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom","description":"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran's democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom","og_description":"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.","og_url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/","og_site_name":"Iran Freedom","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","article_published_time":"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":750,"height":375,"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Iran Freedom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_site":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Iran Freedom","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/"},"author":{"name":"Iran Freedom","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6"},"headline":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#8217;s democratic future is closer than before","datePublished":"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/"},"wordCount":1267,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg","keywords":["Iran Protests","Iranian Opposition Online Conference"],"articleSection":["Activities Outside Iran","Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/","name":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran's democratic future is closer than before - Iran Freedom","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg","datePublished":"2020-11-24T22:22:00+00:00","dateModified":"2020-11-24T22:22:02+00:00","description":"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Mitchell-Reiss-Director-of-Policy-Planning-at-the-Department-of-State-at-the-commemorating-event-of-the-November-2019-protests-in-Iran-1.jpg","width":750,"height":375,"caption":"Mitchell Reiss: The Iranian regime fears Madame Rajavi's ten-point plan. It fears the MEK and what it stands for."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/activities-outside-iran\/2020\/11\/mitchell-reiss-irans-democratic-future-is-closer-than-before\/19722\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mitchell Reiss: Iran&#8217;s democratic future is closer than before"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","name":"Iran Freedom","description":"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy &amp; Equality","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization","name":"Iran Freedom","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","width":251,"height":78,"caption":"Iran Freedom"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6","name":"Iran Freedom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Iran Freedom"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2"],"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/author\/iran-freedom2\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19722"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19725,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19722\/revisions\/19725"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}