IRAN RISING UP FOR FREEDOM 1,000 International Dignitaries, Iranians, in 30,000 locations from 102 countries join Free Iran Global Summit at Ashraf 3, Albania, online. Maryam Rajavi #FreeIran2020 Special Report Sponsored The by Alliance Public for Awareness Iranian dissidents rally for regime change in Tehran BY BEN WOLFGANG oppressive government that has ruled Iran from both political parties participating has proven it can’t deliver for its people. tHe WasHInGtOn tImes since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Leaders represented a who’s who list of American “The Iranian people want change, to of the NCRI, which is comprised of multiple “formers,” including former Sen. Joseph I. have democracy, finally to have human Iran’s theocracy is at the weakest point other organizations, say the council has seen Lieberman of Connecticut, former Penn- rights, to finally have economic wealth, of its four-decade history and facing un- its stature grow to the point that Iranian sylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, former Attorney no more hunger. The will of the people precedented challenges from a courageous officials can no longer deny its influence. General Michael Mukasey, retired Marine is much stronger than any oppressive citizenry hungry for freedom, Iranian dis- The NCRI has many American support- Commandant James T. Conway and others. measure of an Iranian regime,” said Martin sidents and prominent U.S. and European ers, including some with close relationships Several current U.S. officials also delivered Patzelt, a member of German Parliament. politicians said Friday at a major interna- to Mr. Trump, such as former New York remarks, including Sen. Martha McSally, Whether it was the Iran nuclear deal or tional rally calling for the downfall of the City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, one of the Arizona Republican, and Rep. Brad Sher- other policies, all efforts to reform the gov- dictatorship in Tehran. president’s personal lawyers. They say the man, California Democrat. ernment in Tehran have failed and the only The annual “Free Iran Global Summit,” organization not only has galvanized tens of Mrs. Rajavi, Mr. Giuliani and other remaining option is for the Iranian people held virtually this year due to the COVID- thousands of Iranians behind its cause but speakers said the wave of popular protests to rise up and install new leadership, said 19 pandemic, brought together Iranian also has fashioned itself into something of a inside Iran over the past three years prove former U.S. Sen. Lieberman. resistance groups and their allies around the world behind the common cause of pushing to replace Ayatollah Ali Khame- nei’s regime with a nonviolent democracy. The summit — organized and hosted by the multinational umbrella organiza- tion the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its associate group, the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK) — was something of a technical marvel, uniting via Zoom tens of thousands of participants from 102 countries and 30,000 separate locations around the world. Some Iranian resistance activists were even broadcasting into the summit from inside Iran at tremendous risk to their own safety, given the Khamenei regime’s history of violently cracking down on internal opposition. areness Behind the logistical triumph was a Aw simple message from the NCRI organizers IC that Iran’s clerics and terrorist sympathiz- bl ers are living on borrowed time, facing pU unprecedented anger from within and r fo crushing external pressure as the Trump SIAVOSH HOSSEINI/THE MEDIA EXPRESS e administration’s financial sanctions cam- C an paign against Tehran continues to squeeze maryam rajavi, president-elect of the national Council of resistance of Iran (nCrI), waves the traditional Iranian flag as she prepares to I ll the Iranian economy. speak at the “Free Iran Global summit: Iran rising Up for Freedom” on July 17. a e “This generation is a constant nightmare tH for the mullahs. Indeed, the clerics have come face to face with a rebellious gen- shadow government that could potentially that the time is ripe for dramatic change. “We have reached a point where we eration against which they are vulnerable,” step into power in Tehran if the regime falls. In 2017, 2018, 2019, and again in January, can conclude, after all that has been tried red by red by O acting NCRI President Maryam Rajavi said “We know the truth and they know the swarms of protesters took to the streets with this criminal syndicate that is holding ns during a passionate address Friday morning. truth: They know this organization is a total to demonstrate against Iran’s leaders and the people and history and culture of Iran mes O I p t “Today in Iran, one of the greatest battles threat to them,” Mr. Giuliani said during a their policies. hostage, that everything that has been tried s n and one of the greatest tests of our time speech delivered to Friday’s virtual summit. Thousands of those protesters, the has not worked,” he said. “It will come from O rt rt t O G rages on between freedom and religious “When they see today, this gathering NCRI and others have estimated, were the resistance fighters in Iran … and when n ep fascism, between democracy and religious of people taking advantage of Zoom and killed or imprisoned as a result, though the they do turn their resistance into rebellion, HI r AS fundamentalism. This is a battle inter- the new modern methods of communi- Iranian government denies those claims. we and the rest of the world — particularly al W CI twined with the destiny of contemporary cation,” he said. “They realize they have “They’d rather send people to bomb us the United States — must stand with them e pe H s humanity and global peace and security.” a formidable foe. They realize and can in Paris or to kill some of you in America and support them. I am convinced that is T | Mrs. Rajavi delivered her address from foresee how this group could easily stand than to feed their people,” Mr. Giuliani a day that is coming.” the Ashraf-3 complex in Albania, which has up an interim government that could be a said Friday. become the headquarters of the movement bridge to a permanent, democratic, free, Even across Europe, where the Iran This excerpt is from a Washington and is home to MEK dissidents and resis- prosperous and wonderful Iran.” nuclear deal was much more popular than it Times staff-written news article first tance fighters dedicated to overthrowing an Other prominent American figures was in the U.S., officials say Iran’s leadership published online on July 17, 2020. Tony Hill Larry T. Beasley Thomas P. McDevitt David Dadisman Patrick Crofoot eptember 16 • 2020 s DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CEO CHAIRMAN GENERAL MANAGER GRAPHICS SUPERVISOR & INTEGRATED SALES Christopher Dolan Joseph E. Teipe, Jr. Lea Anne Foster Advertising Department: PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE VICE SPECIAL SECTIONS 202-636-3027 EXECUTIVE EDITOR PRESIDENT FREELANCE EDITOR Wednesday • Wednesday SPECIAL SECTIONS 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 advertisers collaborate with The Times’ advertising and marketing departments to highlight a variety of issues and events. Unless otherwise identified, Special Sections 2 are prepared separately and without involvement from the Times’ newsroom and editorial staff. Q&A: National Council of Resistance of Iran s pecial President-elect Maryam Rajavi r eport s BY THE WASHINGTON TIMES claimed the lives of 70,000 of our compa- of religion and state and gender equality. the regime must not be allowed to get its ponsored triots as a result of the regime’s criminal The international community must hands on a single bullet. It must not be al- policies; the deepening economic crisis has recognize and acknowledge the right of lowed to reap the financial benefits of the Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the continued, with a 50% inflation rate and a the Iranian people for resistance against sale of even a single barrel of oil, which National Council of Resistance of Iran, 30% decline in the value of the national this medieval regime and for uprooting it belongs to the Iranian people. by the world’s largest Iranian dissident currency over the past few months alone. once and for all. An hour after the announcement on the t organization, which seeks to replace Iran’s In short, the regime is in a much weaker The Washington Times: Do you signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of he a theocratic regime with a democracy, and more vulnerable position compared think the Trump administration Action (JCPOA) on July 14, 2015, I declared lliance provided the following exclusive answers to last year; it is much more exposed, and policy of “Maximum Pressure” is that the termination of the provisions of to questions from The Washington Times. the society writ-large is on the verge of a working to change the behavior of the six UN Security Council resolutions for real explosion. So, the regime is closer to the Iranian regime domestically, and will not prevent the regime from obtain- TIMES THE WASHINGTON The Washington Times: In what being overthrown more than ever before. is it working to curb Iran’s malign ing the bomb. p way is your organization’s gathering In such circumstances, this gathering influence in the Middle East? More Rather, what is imperative for prevent- ublic this year different from the previous carries three primary messages. specifically, is the current U.S. policy ing the regime from obtaining a nuclear gatherings it has held over the past 17 First, it sends a message to the clerical working to limit Iran’s use of terror- weapon can be summed up in snapback Aw years? What does the organization’s regime that despite all its attempts to phys- ism against its opponents, and to limit sanctions, re-imposition of the six UN Se- areness leadership, and what do the partici- ically eliminate the Iranian Resistance, Iran’s ballistic and nuclear programs, curity Council resolutions, the full elimina- pants in this year’s convention hope coupled with its extensive and well-funded and other nefarious activities? tion of the regime’s enrichment capabilities, demonization campaign, today the Resis- Mrs.