![\"Iran-diplomat-terrorist-assdollah-assadi-02022021\"](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Iran-diplomat-terrorist-assdollah-assadi-02022021.jpg\" "\\"Iran-diplomat-terrorist-assdollah-assadi-02022021\\"")
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A Belgian court continued hearing the appeal from lawyers for three Iranian operatives who were caught attempting to carry out a terrorist plot in 2018. Two of those individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross from Belgium into France while carrying 500 grams of the high explosive TATP. The third was arrested later and was found to have infiltrated the French venue where the National Council of Resistance of Iran<\/a> was then hosting its annual gathering of Iranian expatriates and political supporters.<\/p>\n The NCRI issued a statement in advance of the appeal, emphasizing the importance of Belgian authorities upholding the 15, 17, and 18-year sentences given to the would-be terrorists in February. The statement also reiterated prior criticisms of Western policymakers who have apparently made little effort to confront the threat that was highlighted by their case. On Thursday, the NCRI also published an interview with Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian senator who was in attendance at the 2018 rally and thus at risk from the bomb plot, which specifically targeted the event\u2019s VIP section and the keynote speaker, NCRI President-elect Mrs. Maryam Rajavi<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ms. Betancourt noted that that the decision for that operation \u201cwas taken by\u00a0the\u00a0Iranian regime\u2019s\u00a0Supreme National Security Council (SNSC),\u00a0and the most senior officials of the regime were involved in this act,\u00a0and yet no appropriate political measures\u00a0were\u00a0taken by the EU.\u201d When asked what she would prefer policymakers to do differently, she alluded to nuclear talks that are set to resume between Iran and six world powers in Vienna on November 29, and said Western governments \u201cmust not\u00a0negotiate with a terrorist state, as the\u00a0final outcome\u00a0will be\u00a0a\u00a0concession\u00a0to terrorists\u00a0and\u00a0will undermine\u00a0our security\u00a0further.\u201d<\/p>\n On the previous day, the NCRI issued a statement regarding the terrorists\u2019 appeal in which it urged Western governments to make any future relations with the Iranian regime contingent upon a verifiable end to both human rights abuses and terrorist activities around the world. The statement also recommended designating Iran\u2019s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist entities and prosecuting anyone found to be collaborating with those entities.<\/p>\n Supporters of the Iranian Resistance hold a rally in front of Antwerp's Court of Appeal, as it hears appeal of 3 #Iran<\/a> regime terrorists, urging EU to prosecute & expel regime's agents, close its embassies & designate MOIS & IRGC #EUTime4FirmIranPolicy<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/pmMovMOHsQ<\/a><\/p>\n — Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) November 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n