On Saturday, a bi-partisan summit was held in Washington D.C., U.S., in solidarity with the nationwide Iran uprising and the Iranian people’s quest to establish a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic. The event was attended by several renowned U.S. politicians, including former Vice President Mike Pence. Saturday’s event and its speakers expressed their utter support of the Iranian people’s organized resistance, including the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and its parent coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The panelists echoed the voice of Iranians who reject any kind of tyranny by chanting,” death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs,” and rejected the false notion of the return of the deposed Pahlavi dictatorship in Iran.
The keynote speaker of this conference was Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s President-elect. In her
Referring to the MEK’s leading role in the uprising, Mrs. Rajavi said: “The regime has never hesitated to use its so-called opponents to confront its primary enemy, the MEK. This is because the regime sees the MEK as the engine of the uprising and overthrow.”
“In this context, the regime seeks to overshadow the democratic alternative by promoting remnants of the previous regime, which is nothing but a “transition” from the current regime to the former regime,” she added.
While referring to the disastrous result of the West’s appeasement policy toward Tehran, Mrs. Rajavi underlined that the “missing link in western policy is its exclusion of the Iranian people and the Resistance from the equation in Iran. This has harmful effects not only on the people of Iran but also on the region and the world.”
In his remarks, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence supported the Iranian people’s goal of establishing a secular, democratic, non-nuclear Iranian republic that derives its powers from the consent of the governed.
“I know I speak on behalf of tens of millions of Americans of both political parties and every political philosophy when I say from my heart that the American people support your goal of establishing a secular, democratic, non-nuclear Iranian republic that derives its powers from the consent of the governed,” he said.
Calling out the appeasement policy, Vice President Pence rejected the idea of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran, stating that it would not lead to peace and stability but instead to more terrorism, death, destruction, and destabilization of the region.
“Appeasement has never worked, and it never will. A renewed nuclear deal won’t lead to peace and stability. It will lead to more terrorism, death, and destruction and destabilize the region. A renewed deal won’t block Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb. A renewed nuclear deal won’t benefit the people of Iran in any way, shape, or form,” Pence said, adding that “Peace is only possible with strength.”
Pence called on the Biden administration to cease all efforts in support of nuclear negotiations with Tehran and to stand with the people of Iran.
The 48th Vice President of the U.S. and the Governor of Indiana rejected the notion of the return of the ousted monarchy to Iran and that there is no alternative to the ruling theocracy. “One of the biggest lies of the ruling regime to the world is that there’s no alternative to the status quo. But you know different. There is an alternative, a well-organized, fully prepared, perfectly qualified, popularly supported alternative. And I want to thank Maryam Rajavi for her outstanding leadership and inspiration to the world,” he said.
“The regime should know that we’re not fooled by the fake reformers and regime puppets pretending to be moderated. We know that many of these so-called reformers offer nothing more than false hope and the illusion of change. People of Iran want real change, and real change is exactly what MEK offers,” Mr. Pence added.
Pence praised the resistance movement in Iran, which he believes is a revolution in the making. He also supported Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan for the future of Iran, which would ensure freedom of expression, assembly, religion, and the right to choose elected leaders. Pence called on all free nations to support the Iranian people in their calls for freedom. “Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan for the future of Iran will ensure freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the freedom of every Iranian to choose their elected leaders.”
General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO, addressed the audience next. He expressed his support for the MEK, stating that they are a vital force for freedom and democracy, not only in Iran but also as a living example worldwide.
“For years, the MEK resisted the Ayatollah from bases in Iraq, and then you got caught in the conflict between Saddam and the United States, and it took more years to clarify this. Now you’re established in Albania, safely established there, and you’re a vital force for freedom and democracy. And not only in Iran. You’re an example, a living example around the world,” he said.
He underlined that the revolution is already underway in Iran, with determined popular protests growing, and that the ayatollahs’ reign is coming to an end. General Clark also praised Mrs. Rajavi’s ten-point plan, which he believes holds the key to a peaceful and prosperous Iran. “The revolution is already underway, step-by-step, with determined popular protests growing. A popular, democratic, secular program announced and offered in 100 different channels by Mrs. Rajavi and courageous student leaders,” he said in this regard.
The next speaker, governor Gary Locke, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Ambassador to China, urged the international community to treat Tehran “like the pariah state it is.”
Huge thank you to a longtime ally of the #IranRevoIution, @GovGaryLocke, for speaking at our Washington Summit in support of the Iran Uprising for a Free and Democratic Republic of Iran.
Full remarks below⬇️#Mahsa_Amini #FreeIran #IranChemicalAttacks #IranianRevolution pic.twitter.com/YjVwYIDfy3
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) March 11, 2023
“The international community must side with the Iranian people in their historic and heroic struggle for freedom and democracy. International bodies, from the UN to the World Court, must hold regime leaders accountable for the decades of crimes against humanity,” he said.
Governor Locke also rejected the concept of the return of the ousted Pahlavi dictatorship. “The revolution you are supporting is about bringing democracy and freedom to Iran. It is not about returning to the dark and brutal days of the dictatorial monarchy of the Shah. The people of Iran have paid a heavy price in their resistance against two dictatorships, the current regime, and the Shah,” he said.
Governor Sam Brownback, former governor of Kansas, also joined his colleagues in supporting the Iranian people’s quest for democracy, saying that “The Iranian people can and will throw off their rulers. They are doing so now. I pray for the success of the people of Iran to end this night of tyranny and to be free.”
Former U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli underlined that the heavy price the MEK members and Iranians paid in their struggle for freedom is not in vain, and no one can benefit from it without being a part of this four-decades-long struggle.
“I’ve seen this act before. The train starts leaving the station, headed to victory. And as it’s leaving, people try to grab on board. I got it. I got it. Be careful of it. Everyone is welcome to this cause everyone, Iranians and non-Iranians. The past is the past. We’re moving forward. But we are not exchanging a theocracy for another kleptocracy,” he said.
Following a successful and informative summit on Iran, Iranian Americans march toward a photo exhibition on @uscapitol lawn, displaying the images of innocent women and children killed by clerical regime during the 6 months of uprising. #IranProtests @Mike_Pence @HouseForeignGOP pic.twitter.com/wfKlr5bsOU
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) March 11, 2023