Latest news with #MaryamRajavi
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas City leaders from both parties want a free Iran. We all should
This month, a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives supported Iranian dissident Maryam Rajavi's 10-point plan for a free Iran. The initiative — House Resolution 166 — was cosponsored from both sides of the aisle, representing an array of ideological leanings. From the Greater Kansas City area, Missouri Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sam Graves and Kansas' Sharice Davids are among them. It was led by California Reps. Tom McClintock, a Republican, and Brad Sherman, a Democrat. The legislators recognize the right of the people of Iran — especially the rebellious youth, led by the Mojahedin-e-Khalq or MEK, the pivotal opposition — to confront the suppressive forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps inside Iran. This is consistent with the inalienable rights that the U.S. Constitution recognizes for people to choose their destiny and a government to serve them — if needed by abolishing the existing regime. These lawmakers fully understand that a viable change has to come from within Iran, and the change can happen when led by an organized resistance. Building upon the support from the Iranian American community, Congress has closely monitored the organized movement for freedom inside Iran, led by MEK. The movement enjoys a vast network of devoted resistant units, whose main function is to defend people against the repressive forces of the regime and to tear down the wall of repression. This is going to pave the way for a continuous wave of uprisings when the people reclaim the streets — leading up to the regime's fall. An absolute requirement for the toppling of the Mullahs' regime is a democratic political alternative equipped with an organization of thousands of committed members. And no one has ever understood this better than the mullahs' regime. To curb this real existential threat — embodied in the movement led by Rajavi — the mullahs' regime advanced two propaganda objectives: to suggest the regime can reform through its so-called reformist factions, and to demonize MEK — labeling it a cult, terrorist and unpopular. The above propaganda provided the appeasement policy in the West ammunition to appease the mullahs. Additionally, the narrative has served the regime advancing repression inside and terrorism outside against the dissidents. The recent uprisings in Iran, however, put an end to the claim that the regime can reform. In search of an alternative, the focus has naturally turned to beyond the regime. Feeling the existential threat from the MEK, the pivotal organization of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, led by Rajavi, the mullahs see the only way out by propping up the remnants of the deposed monarchy — abolished through the 1979 revolution — as an alternative. The objectives are to prevent the support for NCRI from reaching a critical mass, to push aside the people yearning for freedom by limiting their choices to the dictatorships of the past (monarchy) and the present (theocracy), and to assist the appeasers arguing there is no viable alternative to the regime. In light of the above, H.R. 166 discredits the regime's propaganda, which uses it cyber-army and political affiliates advocates for the remnants of the monarchy. The legislators stress that a free Iran is possible through a secular democratic republic — an absolute no to dictatorships under the monarchy and Mullahs. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has argued the same: 'Iran will never return to the dictatorship of Shah … The remnants of the past monarchy failed to gain any traction during the (2022-2023) uprising. … Shah's supporters were exposed for heavily relying on collaboration with IRGC.' This resolution recognizes Maryam Rajavi as the embodiment of the organized freedom movement in Iran, adamant about a regime change by the people. It advocates her platform for complete gender equality, freedom of expression and assembly, separation of religion and state, secular democracy and a non-nuclear Iran. An official dialogue with this important voice of political reform sends the message that the U.S. stands with the people for a free Iran. Saeid Sajadi is a practicing physician from Overland Park and a representative for the Iranian-American community for a free Iran.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran accused of 'covering up' death toll in port explosion amid concerns of uprising
FIRST ON FOX: The Islamic Republic of Iran is suspected of "covering up" the true extent of the devastating explosion that rocked the Shahid Rajaee port in Iran's southern coastal town of Bandar Abbas. On Tuesday, the death toll reported from Tehran after the explosion had risen to 70, with another 1,200 said to have been injured from the blast. But, according to information from eyewitnesses and the impacts of the blast radius, those figures are expected to be drastically underreported amid concerns of escalating internal unrest, sources have told Fox News Digital. According to information provided by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the actual death toll from the catastrophic explosion is suspected to be closer to 250, with an estimated 1,500 injured. A Massive Explosion At An Iranian Port Linked To Missile Fuel Shipment Kills 5, Injures Over 700 "The true death toll is several times higher than officially reported," Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the NCRI, said in a statement. "The IRGC, intelligence forces and other organs of repression have mobilized — not to contain the fires or rescue the wounded — but to control the situation and cover up the shipment of solid fuel for ballistic missiles and the full scale of the disaster." The blast originated after a cargo container suspected to be holding sodium perchlorate, a propellant for missiles, including solid fuel in ballistic missiles, apparently caught fire. Read On The Fox News App Footage of the blast showed the substantial damage caused to shipping containers, nearby offices and a massive crater left by the explosion. Anyone within 200 feet of the blast is believed to have been killed, according to sources. One witness told the NCRI, "The security situation is very severe. We are all trapped in our homes and have been told not to go outside. The number of casualties is greater than you can imagine. My brother, who works at the dock, said many drivers were pulverized." One worker who survived the explosion told the NCRI, "The port and offices no longer exist." "The shockwave from the explosion was so strong that it caused colleagues' eyes to pop out," the survivor said. "Security forces have closed off the area, and no one is being allowed in. "In the initial explosion, 15 firefighters were killed. All the staff in the administrative building were also killed." Trump Marks 100 Days In Office Embroiled In Trade Battles, Deadly Wars And Hard Pressed Deals Another survivor accused the regime of "concealing the statistics" by sending Revolutionary Guard forces and intelligence agents to the site of the explosion. The survivor also pointed out that "chemical and military materials" should not have been at the port to begin with and noted that the workers at the massive site were unaware of its presence. Iran's interior minister said the fire likely started due to "negligence" because the cargo was improperly stored, the BBC reported Tuesday. Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence" led to the blast. The officials also said "some individuals deemed responsible" had been summoned, but the regime has yet to admit that any cargo units were holding missile propellant at the civilian shipping center, which is also Iran's largest port. The Wall Street Journal in January reported that two solid fuel shipments had been sent from China to Iran, though it is unclear if this cargo had ever been moved off site or if additional sodium perchlorate had been sent to this port. In a meeting that appeared to take place Sunday between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and regional and port officials, the president appeared to suggest that cargo shipments should not be permitted to stay on site for months at a time and said distribution processes need to be accelerated. In the aftermath of the explosion, Iran reportedly cordoned off the site, evacuating surrounding areas, placing security agents at local hospitals and accusing the media of perpetuating false stories about the explosion. "The sole party responsible for this tragedy is none other than Khamenei's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), whose smuggling of various materials from abroad fuels the manufacture of missiles and other weaponry," Ali Safavi of the NCRI told Fox News Digital. "In the face of this disaster, rather than rushing to aid the wounded or recover the bodies of the deceased, the clerical regime — gripped by fear of a public outcry — has instead issued stern warnings against the dissemination of news, images and videos of the explosion, threatening severe legal repercussions against those who dare to expose the truth."Original article source: Iran accused of 'covering up' death toll in port explosion amid concerns of uprising
Local France
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Thousands rally in Paris against Iran's leaders
"Instead of appeasing the mullahs, (the international community) should stand side by side with the Iranian people," Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told the rally. The NCRI is the political wing of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which Tehran regards as a "terrorist" group. Iran's opposition abroad has been emboldened by the fall in late 2024 of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime ally of Tehran. "As Syria did with Bashar al-Assad, the Iranian people will free themselves of the mullahs, and it will be in 2025," said Belgium's former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. "The strategy of complacency has to change", he argued, adding: "I don't think it's going to happen that way with the US administration this time". "The Iranian regime will fall like the Syrian regime fell, at a speed that no one would have predicted," former Syrian rebel leader Riad al-Asaad told the crowd by video link. Several speakers at Saturday's rally voiced hopes that US President Donald Trump's promise to exert "maximum pressure" against Tehran would help their cause. 'Cascade of failures' Trump has in the past lashed out at Tehran's nuclear programme, but has also expressed a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran. On Friday, the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned against negotiations with the United States. "You should not negotiate with such a government, it is unwise, it is not intelligent, it is not honourable to negotiate," Khamenei told a meeting of military top brass. In Paris, Rajavi told the rally that the Iranian government's "cascade of failures" had "pitted the regime's internal factions against each other over the question of whether or not to negotiate with the United States". Police put the turnout at the Paris demonstration at around 6,000. The throng was decked out in the flags of the NCRI, a lion holding a sword against a green, white and red backdrop, with a sprinkling of a few Ukrainian flags here and there. "Many of the weapons which are killing our children in Ukraine come from Iran," said Lara, a Ukrainian living in the German town of Kassel who was bussed into the French capital by the NCRI.
Khaleej Times
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Thousands rally in Paris against Iran's leaders
Several thousand Iranians came from across Europe to rally in Paris on Saturday, calling on world leaders to put greater pressure on the Islamic republic's ruling clerics. "Instead of appeasing the mullahs, (the international community) should stand side by side with the Iranian people," Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told the rally. The NCRI is the political wing of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which Tehran regards as a "terrorist" group. Iran's opposition abroad has been emboldened by the fall in late 2024 of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime ally of Tehran. "As Syria did with Bashar al-Assad, the Iranian people will free themselves of the mullahs, and it will be in 2025," said Belgium's former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. "The strategy of complacency has to change", he argued, adding: "I don't think it's going to happen that way with the US administration this time". "The Iranian regime will fall like the Syrian regime fell, at a speed that no one would have predicted," former Syrian rebel leader Riad al-Asaad told the crowd by video link. Several speakers at Saturday's rally voiced hopes that US President Donald Trump's promise to exert "maximum pressure" against Tehran would help their cause. Trump has in the past lashed out at Tehran's nuclear programme, but has also expressed a desire to reach a peace deal with Iran. On Friday, the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned against negotiations with the United States. "You should not negotiate with such a government, it is unwise, it is not intelligent, it is not honourable to negotiate," Khamenei told a meeting of military top brass. In Paris, Rajavi told the rally that the Iranian government's "cascade of failures" had "pitted the regime's internal factions against each other over the question of whether or not to negotiate with the United States". Police put the turnout at the Paris demonstration at around 6,000. The throng was decked out in the flags of the NCRI, a lion holding a sword against a green, white and red backdrop, with a sprinkling of a few Ukrainian flags here and there. "Many of the weapons which are killing our children in Ukraine come from Iran," said Lara, a Ukrainian living in the German town of Kassel who was bussed into the French capital by the NCRI.
