NCRI

Former U.S. Ambassador Mitchell Reiss: Iran’s Resistance Has Scared the Regime

Shahriar Kia
Former US Ambassador Mitchell Reiss gave a speech in support of the Iranian people and their Organized Resistance (NCRI and PMOI) led by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi for a free, democratic, non-nuclear republic of Iran.

On June 30, at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, former U.S. Ambassador Mitchell Reiss delivered a powerful speech highlighting the fragility and insecurity of the regime in Tehran. Amb. Reiss, who has served as Director of U.S. State Department Policy Planning and Special Envoy to the Northern Ireland Peace Process, emphasized the significant impact of Iran’s resistance movements. He pointed out that the morality police in Iran now wear bulletproof vests on the streets, indicating the regime’s fear of its own people and its lack of legitimacy.

Reiss noted the positive trends within Iran, citing the strong and growing democratic resistance movement. He praised the personal courage of those involved in the resistance and stressed the importance of showcasing leaders like Madam Rajavi, whose democratic leadership he described as inspiring and committed.

Addressing the spread of misinformation by the regime and its allies outside Iran, Amb. Reiss urged for increased efforts to counter these false narratives and to garner more global support.

In his discussion of the battle of ideas, Reiss declared the regime in Tehran intellectually bankrupt, unable to provide prosperity, justice, or security to its people. In stark contrast, he lauded Madam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for a free and democratic Iran as a model of governance that respects individual rights and human dignity.

Reiss concluded by asserting that the ideas and values of the resistance are their greatest strength and reason for eventual success, noting their alignment with the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The full text of Ambassador Mitchell Reiss’s speech follows:

 

When I was at the State Department, one of my responsibilities was assessing trends to determine whether U.S. policies were working or failing, whether we were winning or losing. I want to do that today by briefly examining the MEK and NCRI efforts against the regime in Tehran across three different domains.

First, let’s look at the situation inside Iran. We see a regime that is brittle and insecure. Consider this. The morality police are now wearing bulletproof vests when they’re on the streets in Iran. Why is that? A regime that fears its own people and will not let them speak freely, will not let them vote in a fair and open election.

A regime that lacks all legitimacy. At the same time, we see a democratic resistance movement inside Iran that is strong, widespread, and growing. Their personal courage is inspiring. The trends here are positive, moving in the right direction.

Second, what’s happening in the battle outside Iran? Outside Iran, the regime, its allies, and its proxies continue to spread misinformation. Academics repeat and spread these lies. The MEK, NCRI, and their friends are making some progress in countering these perceptions, but we need to do more. We need to showcase Madam Rajavi, as we see her. An inspiring, committed, passionate, and democratic leader. More has to be done here to win more friends and allies around the world.

Let me turn to the third battlefield, the battle of ideas. What ideas do the mullahs in Tehran have to offer? They’re intellectually bankrupt. They can’t deliver the basic functions of every government. They can’t deliver prosperity to the Iranian people. The economy is failing. Inflation is high. Unemployment is high, especially among young people.

The mullahs also cannot deliver justice to the Iranian people. The justice system is arbitrary and corrupt. Iran today is a country where democrats and human rights advocates sit in jails, while criminals are on the police force and in the government.

The mullahs cannot deliver security to the Iranian people. In fact, they keep themselves in power by repressing the people, controlling what they read, what they say, and even what they wear. The regime’s only contributions to the world these days are violence and terror.

Now, let’s compare this record of repression with the vision articulated by Madam Rajavi. The battle of ideas begins with her Ten-Point Plan for a free and democratic Iran. It’s a model of governance with respect for individual rights and human dignity. On this battlefield of ideas, you are not just winning, you’ve already won. You’ve already won.

On this battlefield of ideas, the mullahs in Tehran are completely unarmed. They can’t compete. They have nothing. Your ideas, on the other hand, have appeal all over the world.

They’re enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Your ideals appeal to people all over the world who cherish freedom and democracy. These ideas, these values, are your greatest source of strength. They are why we stand with you and why we support you, and they are why you will prevail.

Thank you.

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