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FREE IRAN THE ALTERNATIVE A Special Report Prepared by The Washington Times Special Sections Department National Council of Resistance of Iran Paris gathering shows dissident group’s growing clout BY THE WASHINGTON TIMES PARIS — Iran’s largest dissident group is getting a fresh burst of support in its de- cadeslong push for regime change, as pres- sure builds on the Islamic regime in Tehran from the inside as well as the outside. A large, boisterous rally here over the weekend was led by the largest opposi- tion organization in Iran of exiles, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a well-connected group that has found new prominence and influence in the strongly anti-Iran Trump administration. The pressure in Iran has been mount- ing in the weeks since the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal. President Trump announced a tightening of oil and other economic sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unveiled a string of de- mands to increase the pressure on Tehran, and advocates of regime change such as National Security Adviser John R. Bolton were brought into the administration’s SARAH WACHTER/SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES inner circle. JUBILANT: The National Council of Resistance of Iran, which has found new prominence in the Trump administration, rallied in Paris. Saturday’s rally also was held amid a TMENT string of large street protests in Iran over ar the country’s faltering economy, including The stage became a waving sea of red challenges to its authority. in an Iran free of nuclear weapons. EP d traders in the conservative Grand Bazaar tulips in homage to the 30,000 MEK mem- ….. Many consider the group to be the After Ms. Rajavi spoke, the people in the in Tehran incensed over a plunge in the bers, an NCRI faction, who were executed only credible and organized opposition crowd, wearing yellow vests to symbolize value of the currency and persistent work- by the Iranian regime in 1981, still a sear- force outside of Iran, with extensive con- the sun in the Iranian crest, stood up to ers strikes. ing memory in the MEK’s checkered and tacts inside the country. The NCRI has show the sign on their backs, which read, SectionS Many in Paris insisted that the Iranian tragic history. pursued its objective of regime change with “Every moment for the uprising.” al regime is at its weakest point in decades. The floral tribute was a nod to an Iranian discipline and laserlike focus. The strong showing of dignitaries from In one measure of the NCRI’s growing folk song about red tulips rising from the Emblazoned along the stage was leading Western countries included former Speci s clout, some three dozen current and pre- blood of martyrs. a giant banner, in English and Farsi for French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner vious officials from the U.S., Europe and Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the #RegimeChangeIran, a hashtag that and Stephen Harper, a former prime min- Middle East attended the gathering. One a Republican, urged European nations emerged right after Mr. Pompeo last month ister of Canada. of the most prominent U.S. notables was that have balked at Mr. Trump’s tough line laid out a long list of conditions and conces- Among the U.S. officials present were Rudolph W. Giuliani, now the personal at- against Iran to get on board to tighten the sions Iran would have to meet to escape Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador INGTON TIME INGTON torney for President Trump and a veteran economic vise. future U.S. pressure. to the United Nations; former FBI Director ASH of many NCRI events. “We need to insist that [European gov- Former Sen. Robert Torricelli, New Jer- Louis J. Freeh; and former Attorney General E W Mr. Giuliani made a strong call to ramp ernments] join the sanctions once again,” sey Democrat, speaking to The Washington Michael Mukasey. h T up sanctions as the protests in recent Mr. Gingrich said at the rally. Times on the sidelines of the huge Paris Donya Jam, a 23-year-old graduate stu- y B months have spread to more than 140 cities. The NCRI backed the ouster of the Shah gathering, praised the NCRI’s organiza- dent studying human rights and European d E “When they do that, and when these of Iran with other revolutionary groups in tional strength and persistence. history at George Mason University, took ar protests continue to grow and grow, this 1979 but clashed with the Islamist forces led “It’s their intensity, it’s their strength, it’s time off from her studies to help plan the EP r threatens to topple the regime, which by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini afterward. their willingness to sacrifice, and it’s the rally. T P means freedom is right around the cor- After losing a vicious power struggle, NCRI appeal of their messaging,” he said. A Christian whose parents fled Iran r ner,” he said. “This is the time to put on the leaders now say they renounce violence. Ms. Rajavi inspired intense fealty from because of religious persecution, she has EPO r real pressure. The sanctions will become On stage at the rally were photos of her large cohort of followers…. On Saturday, never visited Iran. “I will not step foot in al greater and greater.” “ashrafs,” or cells of resistance in Iran. clad in her customary turquoise blue hijab Iran until it is free,” she said. Red and green confetti rained on the Covert activists inside Iran appeared with and suit, she reiterated the NCRI’s plan for This excerpt is from a Washington Times PECI s crowd, which organizers estimated to be their faces covered because many face freedom and democracy in Iran, which staff-written news article that first published a THE WASHINGTON TIMES THE WASHINGTON 100,000, right before NCRI leader Maryam arrest and imprisonment from a regime includes separation of church and state, on June 30, 2018. | Rajavi spoke. that views the group as one of the prime gender equality and freedom of expression COVER PHOTO: TME Cheryl Wetzstein Larry T. Beasley David Dadisman Tony Hill SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER PRESIDENT AND CEO GENERAL MANAGER DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING & INTEGRATED SALES Advertising Department: Thomas P. McDevitt Eugene Jackson Jr. 202-636-3062 CHAIRMAN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Patrick Crofoot OF SALES & MARKETING GRAPHICS SUPERVISOR Special Sections are multipage tabloid products that run in The Washington Times daily newspaper and are posted online and in PDF form onits website. Sponsors and Thursday • July 19 • 2018 • July Thursday advertisers collaborate with The Times’ advertising and marketing departments to highlight a variety of issues and events, such as The Power of Prayer, North Korea’s Nuclear Threat, Gun Rights Policy Conference and Rolling Thunder Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans. Unless otherwise identified, Special Sections are prepared separately 2 SPECIAL SECTIONS and without involvement from the Times’ newsroom and editorial staff. ‘A brave woman’ will be the face of a liberated Iran Rudy Giuliani The era of appeasement is over. Those who practice appeasement are going to We are now, I believe, very realistic find themselves shamed in world history. in being able to see an end of the regime What have you accomplished? What in Iran... We’ve lived through this before have you accomplished with a tremen- in other oppressed countries — when dous pressure put on you? Since I’ve the people take to the streets, and they been working with you and all of my protest day after day like they’ve done in colleagues from the United States, we over 142 cities in Iran, like they did the fought a worldwide battle to shed the other day in Tehran ... when that happens, unfair label of terrorism in the United then freedom is right around the corner. States, the United Kingdom, the Euro- I say to those countries that continue pean Union. That label is now gone, and to support Iran, to those countries that you’re seen as defenders of human rights do business with Iran, “You are paying because that’s what you are. And we won for a regime that deprives women of their that battle. rights, that deprives children of their You’ve been able to form resistance rights, and that murders people because units all over Iran. Those protests are not they practice a different religion. How happening accidentally. Those protests can you do that? How much better are PHOTO: TME are happening because they’re being co- you than the terrorists when you are ordinated now, unlike in 2009. And what giving them money and propping up this my president turned his back on that replaced by another bad government, and it says is we have an alternative. regime?” very dangerous nuclear agreement with maybe it’s even worse. We’ve seen some Suppose the face of Iran was a brave We all know that the economy of Iran. He said, “No, we’re not going to do of that in the Middle East with Egypt. woman in a country that recently has had Iran is in freefall. It’s evaporating. That’s business with the biggest state sponsor However, here, we’re not replacing one a history ... of treating women inhu- terrible for the people of Iran, for your of terrorism. We’re going to reimpose the government with a government we don’t manely. And this brave woman will be brothers and sisters and your relatives sanctions.” know. You have an alternative. You’ve the face of the new, modern, liberated and friends.