Two-minute read
The Iranian regime has reacted with a mix of threats and propaganda to an international conference in Paris that highlighted support for democracy and opposition to Tehran’s theocratic rule. Esmail Baghaee, spokesperson for the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lashed out at France, accusing it of hosting “terrorist groups” and violating international obligations. “The French ambassador was summoned and warned against hosting terrorism,” Baghaee said, adding that such actions “promote lawlessness on the international stage.”
State media outlets escalated the regime’s response with scathing rhetoric. On January 13, the state-run Kayhan, a publication closely tied to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described the Paris gathering as “a disgraceful meeting of the most infamous and hated terrorists in the world.” It warned Western governments that “supporting these terrorists will backfire and further expose their duplicity in the fight against terrorism.”
On the same day, Farhikhtegan, a newspaper run by Ali-Akbar Velayati, former Foreign Minister and special advisor to the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, wrote: “The MEK held a conference in Paris where the presence of an American official caught attention. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, attended the MEK’s conference and later tweeted, claiming that the first Trump administration’s policy on Iran should be implemented. The presence of this American official and his anti-Iranian remarks indicate that Trump has serious plans to support regime change forces and seems to have a clear strategy for confronting Iran.”
The newspaper, analyzing the regime’s situation in negotiations with Europeans and the Paris Conference, concludes: “In a situation where it is clear that the Americans and Zionists are aligning the regime change forces, and as a recent example, figures close to the Trump administration are visiting the MEK camp, this notion is reinforced that the Americans are proceeding with a planned approach toward confronting Iran. Negotiation is not the only option on their table. The presence of the U.S. envoy on the Ukraine issue at the MEK camp—a representative handling one of Trump’s most critical agendas—indicates that Trump is seeking to strengthen pressure levers against Iran to extract concessions.”
Kayhan specifically attacked General Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor to US Vice President Mike Pence and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia of the incoming administration, who called for intensified economic and diplomatic measures against the Iranian regime. “His calls for pressure on Iran are nothing but empty rhetoric from a defeated administration trying to salvage its failed policies,” the outlet lamented.
Report: Prominent Global Leaders Unite in Support of Resistance and Democracy in #Iranhttps://t.co/gNlTKxXV0E
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 11, 2025
The conference in Paris, held on January 11, brought together prominent global leaders to discuss Iran’s future and express support for the organized opposition led by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Distinguished speakers included General James Jones, former U.S. National Security Advisor; Liz Truss, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; John Bercow, former Speaker of the UK Parliament; Janez Janša, former Prime Minister of Slovenia; Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine; General Tod Wolters, former NATO Commander and Commander of U.S. Forces in Europe; David Jones, former UK Minister; General Keith Kellogg and Ola Elvestuen, former Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway.
Terrified by regional setbacks, domestic unrest, and international isolation, the clerical regime is especially alarmed by the prospect of the NCRI gaining global recognition and momentum for their call for regime change. This fear has triggered hysterical reactions from regime officials and will further fuel infighting among the ruling factions, as evidenced in state-controlled media.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has consistently asserted that the regime’s survival depends on intensified domestic repression and international terrorism, equates any retreat with the collapse of his rule. Recent displays, such as the unveiling of a so-called “missile city” and aggressive rhetoric about potential shifts in nuclear doctrine, are part of a calculated effort to intimidate opponents and project strength. These moves signal a regime likely to double down on exporting terrorism abroad while ramping up crackdowns at home, as it seeks to quell rising dissent and preempt the growing momentum of opposition forces.