Latest news with #Rajavi
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
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Over 150 lawmakers lend support to resistance movement inside Iran as regime's proxies fall
FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of 151 lawmakers is rallying around a resolution to support the Iranian resistance movement ahead of a hearing with an opposition leader. The resolution, led by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., expresses support for the Iranian people and their stated desire for a "democratic, secular and non-nuclear" Iran through regime change. "The developments of the past year have left no doubt that the source of terrorism and warmongering in the Middle East region is the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran," the resolution reads. It calls out the Iranian regime's oppressive practices, voices support for the opposition and calls on global leaders to continue imposing sanctions. World Braces For Impact Of Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' Sanctions Targeting Iran "The efforts of Western countries over the past 45 years to change the behavior of this regime have failed, and the ultimate solution to ending the Iranian regime's threats is the establishment of a secular, democratic, and pluralistic republic by the Iranian people and resistance." Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump has been hesitant to throw U.S. efforts into regime change in Iran. "We can't get totally involved in all that. We can't run ourselves, let's face it," he told Iranian-American producer Patrick Bet-David in October. The resolution also claimed that in the first four months of Masoud Pezeshkian's presidency, beginning July 28, 2024, some 500 prisoners, including political prisoners and at least 17 women, were executed, and hand amputations increased. It also expressed support for Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a leading resistance group known as MEK to Iranians, and her 10-point plan to bring democracy, secular government and human rights to Iran. The plan, which has the support of 4,000 parliamentarians across the globe, calls for installing NCRI as a provisional government for six months to set up elections and a constituent assembly. The resolution was introduced Wednesday ahead of a 2 p.m. hearing entitled "The Future of Iran" with the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, where Rajavi – a top target of Iran's terror plots and demonization – will give testimony. President Trump Can Stop Iran's March To Nuclear Weapons: 'Re-establish Credible Military Threat', Report Says The first Trump administration imposed harsh sanctions to bankrupt Iran but stayed away from messaging campaigns aimed at encouraging Iranian resistance. This time around, opposition supporters say the situation on the ground has changed – the regime is far weaker after Bashar al-Assad was forced out of power in Syria and Israel has decimated its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. Protests have again kicked up across the nation and threaten to spread if the financial crisis does not improve. Rajavi, in her opening remarks, will say that the Iranian regime is at its weakest point in decades. "The situation of the Iranian society is explosive. During its 46-year rule, the religious fascism has never been so weak and fragile," Rajavi is expected to say, according to remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. State, Treasury Departments Reimposes 'Maximum Pressure' Sanctions On Iran's Oil Trade "The mullahs are surrounded from all sides: by a society that is filled with anger and rebellion, by Resistance Units, and by selfless and rebellious youth, because of its bankrupt economy and corruption in the government, particularly after the overthrow of the brutal dictatorship of Assad and the collapse of the regime's "strategic depth" in the region." The resolution is sure to rankle Ayatollah Ali Khameni, leader of the current Iranian regime, and supporters of Reza Pahlavi II, whose father ruled Iran in the 1970s, who want to see the younger Pahlavi take power in Iran and deeply oppose the NCRI. Rajavi will call for the implementation of United Nations snapback sanctions that were eased under the 2015 nuclear deal, putting the regime under the Chapter VII charter of the U.N. as a threat to peace and formally recognizing the resistance's movement for regime change. She will also pay tribute to two resistance leaders, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who have been sentenced to death on charges of "rebellion" and for being members of the MEK. The U.N. has called on Iran to halt their executions. The regime has executed 120,000 on political grounds over the past four decades, according to Rajavi. The hearings come after the Trump administration pushed forward with its promise to return the U.S. to "maximum pressure" sanctions with new crackdowns on Iranian oil tankers. Trump has said he would "love to make a deal" with the nation's clerical leaders, but Iran has insisted it will not engage in nuclear negotiations while the U.S. is imposing maximum pressure. "Iran's position regarding nuclear talks is clear, and we will not negotiate under pressure and sanctions," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said during a televised joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "There is no possibility of direct negotiations with the U.S. as long as maximum pressure is being applied in this way."Original article source: Over 150 lawmakers lend support to resistance movement inside Iran as regime's proxies fall
Fox News
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Over 150 lawmakers lend support to resistance movement inside Iran as regime's proxies fall
FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of 151 lawmakers is rallying around a resolution to support the Iranian resistance movement ahead of a hearing with an opposition leader. The resolution, led by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., expresses support for the Iranian people and their stated desire for a "democratic, secular and non-nuclear" Iran through regime change. "The developments of the past year have left no doubt that the source of terrorism and warmongering in the Middle East region is the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran," the resolution reads. It calls out the Iranian regime's oppressive practices, voices support for the opposition and calls on global leaders to continue imposing sanctions. "The efforts of Western countries over the past 45 years to change the behavior of this regime have failed, and the ultimate solution to ending the Iranian regime's threats is the establishment of a secular, democratic, and pluralistic republic by the Iranian people and resistance." President Donald Trump has been hesitant to throw U.S. efforts into regime change in Iran. "We can't get totally involved in all that. We can't run ourselves, let's face it," he told Iranian-American producer Patrick Bet-David in October. The resolution also claimed that in the first four months of Masoud Pezeshkian's presidency, beginning July 28, 2024, some 500 prisoners, including political prisoners and at least 17 women, were executed, and hand amputations increased. The resolution also expressed support for Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a leading resistance group known as MEK to Iranians, and her 10-point plan to bring democracy, secular government and human rights to Iran. The plan, which has the support of 4,000 parliamentarians across the globe, calls for installing NCRI as a provisional government for six months to set up elections and a constituent assembly. It was introduced Wednesday ahead of a 2 p.m. hearing entitled "The Future of Iran" with the Congressional Iran Human Rights and Democracy Caucus, where Rajavi – a top target of Iran's terror plots and demonization – will give testimony. The first Trump administration imposed harsh sanctions to bankrupt Iran but stayed away from messaging campaigns aimed at encouraging Iranian resistance. This time around, opposition supporters say the situation on the ground has changed – the regime is far weaker after Bashar al-Assad was forced out of power in Syria and Israel has decimated its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. Protests have again kicked up across the nation and threaten to spread if the financial crisis does not improve. Rajavi, in her opening remarks, will say that the Iranian regime is at its weakest point in decades. "The situation of the Iranian society is explosive. During its 46-year rule, the religious fascism has never been so weak and fragile," Rajavi is expected to say, according to remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. "The mullahs are surrounded from all sides: by a society that is filled with anger and rebellion, by Resistance Units, and by selfless and rebellious youth, because of its bankrupt economy and corruption in the government, particularly after the overthrow of the brutal dictatorship of Assad and the collapse of the regime's "strategic depth" in the region." The resolution is sure to rankle Ayatollah Ali Khameni, leader of the current Iranian regime, and supporters of Reza Pahlavi II, whose father ruled Iran in the 1970s, who want to see the younger Pahlavi cede power in Iran and deeply oppose the NCRI. Rajavi will call for the implementation of United Nations snapback sanctions that were eased under the 2015 nuclear deal, putting the regime under the Chapter VII charter of the U.N. as a threat to peace and formally recognizing the resistance's movement for regime change. She will also pay tribute to two resistance leaders, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, who have been sentenced to death on charges of "rebellion" and for being members of the MEK. The U.N. has called on Iran to halt their executions. The regime has executed 120,000 on political grounds over the past four decades, according to Rajavi. The hearings come after the Trump administration pushed forward with its promise to return the U.S. to "maximum pressure" sanctions with new crackdowns on Iranian oil tankers. Trump has said he would "love to make a deal" with the nation's clerical leaders, but Iran has insisted it will not engage in nuclear negotiations while the U.S. is imposing maximum pressure. "Iran's position regarding nuclear talks is clear, and we will not negotiate under pressure and sanctions," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said during a televised joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "There is no possibility of direct negotiations with the U.S. as long as maximum pressure is being applied in this way."
