American Senators from Both Parties Speak in Support of the Iranian People and Against the Islamic Republic

Several Republican and Democratic senators emphasized their support for the Iranian people in achieving freedom and democracy while intensifying actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran at a meeting. Senator Ted Cruz, on Wednesday, December 21, at the gathering titled "Iran Policy: Countering the Regime's War and Terrorism, Advancing a Free and Non-Nuclear Republic," highlighted that the Iranian people will achieve democracy and free elections. He discussed the implications of Donald Trump's presidency for the Islamic Republic, stating, "On election day, no one had a worse day than Khamenei." Cruz also noted, "If history has taught us anything, it is that dictators only understand the language of power." He emphasized that with the establishment of Donald Trump's government on February 1, "we will return to a policy of maximum pressure," claiming that "Khamenei is writhing in fear" because "we will blind and bind all the capabilities of this oppressive and savage regime from any side." Besides Senator Cruz, several other senators and political figures from the U.S. spoke at this meeting, including Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democratic senator, who stated that the Islamic Republic has "suffered a heavy blow, and developments in Syria show its fundamental weakness in regional strategy and policies." She added, "Now we must strive for our shared values like democracy, human rights, and justice. The Iranian people have paid a price for these for years. We must see how we can support the rights of the Iranian people to choose their future government." Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated that he has been following the situation in Iran since 1979, saying, "The leaders of this regime and the clerics have destroyed the assets of a rich nation and its heritage," but "perhaps one day the people will celebrate the victory of democracy in Tehran." He regarded the situation in Syria and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad as "a great opportunity," adding that patience is necessary and that they must protect their forces in the region. "We must not allow the Iranian regime to continue its actions. We must not let them continue their terrorist tactics." Senator Tillis emphasized, "We must not appease them and must increase the pressure to create an opportunity for a democratic and peaceful Syria and Iran," asserting that "the American people stand with those who seek a free, modern, secure, and proud Iran." Another speaker at the gathering, Democratic Senator Cory Booker, stated, "What the Iranian people suffer from is an unjust regime that inflicts horrific violence against the people, violates human rights and civil rights, tortures and kidnaps people." He labeled the Islamic Republic as "the number one exporter of international terrorism and violence," while emphasizing, "Our ideal is the same as that of the Iranian people." Senator Booker described the Islamic Republic of Iran as "the most destabilizing factor in the Middle East," saying, "We have an urgent duty to ensure, together with our international allies, that this regime's repression of the Iranian people comes to an end." The gathering also featured General James Jones, former National Security Advisor to the U.S. President (2010) and former NATO commander, General Keith Kellogg, National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence (2021), General Tod Wolters, NATO Commander (2019 to 2022), Ambassador Sam Brownback, U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom (2021), former Kansas Governor and Senator, Ambassador Mohammed Abdullah al-Hadhrami, Yemen's Ambassador to the U.S., and former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Mark Ginsberg. Additionally, Maryam Rajavi, whom the "People's Mujahedin of Iran" calls "the elected president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran," spoke online at this session. She referred to recent developments, including the "overthrow of the Syrian dictatorship," calling it "a strategic blow to the clerical regime" and its main proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon.