Iran Resistance Gathering in Paris Emphasizes Overthrow of the Islamic Republic

At a conference held by the "National Council of Resistance" and its associated organization, the "People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran," on Saturday, July 9, in Paris, Maryam Rajavi, the leader of this organization, and several former politicians and officials from the U.S., Europe, and some regional countries spoke. Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and legal advisor to Donald Trump, Bill Richardson, former U.S. representative to the United Nations, as well as the former Prime Minister of Canada and former foreign ministers of France and Italy were among the participants in this annual gathering. Among the issues raised by the speakers were the current political and economic situation in Iran, the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, and Europe's role in relation to Iran, but the main focus of the conference was the widespread protests in Iran, which participants deemed as "a sign of the imminent collapse of the Islamic Republic." In recent days, strikes and gatherings have taken place in Tehran and several other cities, which, although protesting against inflation and currency market instability, also included political demands and objections to the Islamic Republic's policies in the region. Shahin Qabadi, spokesperson for the People's Mojahedin Organization, told Radio Farda that the speakers at the Saturday meeting in Paris emphasized "decisive action against the Islamic Republic government." The People's Mojahedin Organization is considered one of the significant alternatives to the leaders of the Islamic Republic, and most of its members and supporters continue their activities in Albania and several other European countries following the evacuation of Camp Ashraf and then Camp Liberty in Iraq. Giulio Terzi, former Italian foreign minister and one of the speakers at the Saturday conference in Paris, called for a change in European policy and closer alignment with the U.S. in imposing sanctions against Iran. Bill Richardson, former U.S. representative to the UN, also stated after speaking at the conference that due to the Islamic Republic's role in the crises in Syria and Yemen, pressures and sanctions against Iran should be increased, but he opposed the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA. Bernard Kouchner, former French foreign minister, also mentioned at the Paris conference that the leaders of the Islamic Republic believe there are differences between Europe, the U.S., and Canada, saying, "They should know that everyone agrees and stands with the people of Iran." According to the People's Mojahedin Organization's website, Maryam Rajavi, in her speech at the Paris conference, referred to the protests in Iran, stating that the velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) has lost its legitimacy, Ali Khamenei's position has "deteriorated," the entire regime is in a financial crisis, the Revolutionary Guards and the anti-people Basij have suffered losses, and the show of reformism to preserve the regime no longer has an audience. Maryam Rajavi and several members of the leadership of this organization are based in France. Massoud Rajavi, the former leader of the People's Mojahedin Organization, has not been seen in public for over 15 years, and no audio or video messages from him have been released. The People's Mojahedin Organization was removed from the list of "terrorist groups" in Europe about ten years ago and from a similar list in the U.S. about six years ago, intensifying its political activities. Iran considers this organization a "terrorist group" and has repeatedly asked France and other European countries to extradite its leaders to Tehran.