Iranian people’s resolute struggle for liberty inspires the Diaspora to rally for a democratic change. Instead of a foreign war or continued appeasement, a home grown movement for democracy can indeed end the tyrannical regime in Tehran and ensure a peaceful and nuclear-free Iran.

 

Dealing with Tehran’s Regime

Since early 1990s, the United States and the EU have offered many carrots and little sticks in dealing with Tehran. For eight years, Khatami made the carrot stew and served the Tehran regime. Now that the international community recognizes there is no amount of political concessions or economic incentives would moderate Tehran’s regime, it is time to erase all traces of appeasement policy including the blacklisting of Iran’s main opposition groups, like the MEK or the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

 

Solution

Iranian people have an inalienable right resist this regime, therefore, United States and Europe must recognize the critical role of Iran’s main opposition group and its ability to organize and lead the democracy movement. The democracy movement in Iran does not wish to see its homegrown efforts for regime change impeded. Nor does it want to outsource it to any form of foreign military intervention. The Iranian people support a third option for democratic change in Iran. In her address to Council of Europe on April 10, 2006, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi leader of the NCRI, set forth that option. “Today, I have come to say that the international community is not required to choose between the nuclear-armed mullahs or a war.  There is a third option:  Democratic change by the Iranian people and their organized resistance. Making concessions to the mullahs is not the way to avoid war. It would increases the possibility of a war.  It is necessary to react quickly. We do not have much time.” she said.

 

Moving Forward

Only by establishing much more direct communication with Iran’s opposition groups including NCRI who promotes democracy, secularism and a republic in Iran, can the United States hope to influence the course of events there. The United States will face the great risk of hurting the pride and trust of the Iranian people if its direct communication excludes groups who continue to be blacklisted as a favor to Tehran. A necessary step is to correct the failed policy of appeasement which led to unjust designation of MEK or NCRI as “terrorist group”.

More than 150 member of United States Congress has urged the State Department on several occasions; these groups do not belong to such category and are Iran's "legitimate resistance movement".  

Speakers on this platform will address the roadmap for a democratic, secular, republic in Iran and the role of international community in standing with Iran’s patriotic resistance.

 

See Platform III >>