Rudy Giuliani's Speech at the MEK Protest in Warsaw

Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and one of President Trump's personal lawyers, spoke at a gathering of supporters of the "National Council of Resistance" on Wednesday, February 13, stating that "the regime change of the religious dictatorship in Iran is necessary for peace and stability in the region." Giuliani emphasized that he was speaking at the invitation of the MEK and "without coordination" with the U.S. government, and he was unsure if President Trump was aware of his presence in Warsaw. He asserted that "fundamental changes" in Iran are a prerequisite for establishing stability in the Middle East. In an interview with Radio Farda, Giuliani clarified that his presence in Warsaw was for personal reasons, stating, "I am here as a private citizen, not as their attorney. I am a private lawyer, not a government lawyer, and I speak for myself." He referred to Maryam Rajavi as an "alternative" for leadership in Iran, noting that the leader of the Islamic Republic is concerned about the MEK. Giuliani stated, "They are the only group that is well-organized and can take over the government in Iran in a way that is different from other governments." Giuliani, who gained prominence as mayor after the September 11 attacks, has met with Maryam Rajavi in the past and has spoken at other gatherings of the "National Council of Resistance." Following his speech five months ago at a MEK rally, where he claimed that the hardships caused by U.S. sanctions could lead to a "successful revolution," the U.S. State Department stated that his remarks did not reflect Washington's position and that he was not speaking on behalf of the U.S. government. Giuliani's speech comes amid unverified claims from some of his political rivals in the U.S. regarding payments from the MEK for his appearances at these gatherings. According to the Financial Times, Giuliani, who represented the MEK for 11 years, was paid for two of his speeches last year. The Financial Times also claimed that Giuliani's appearance in Warsaw was sudden and angered some Polish officials who were trying to create consensus on regional issues, although Polish officials did not confirm this claim. Several international figures, including Ahmed Ghazali, former Prime Minister of Algeria, who has spoken at previous "National Council of Resistance" gatherings in France, attended the Warsaw rally and spoke in support of the organization. The chants of "Massoud is our leader" were heard among the supporters of the "National Council of Resistance," despite Massoud Rajavi not being seen in public for many years, and a former senior Saudi official referred to Maryam Rajavi as the "widow of the late Rajavi." In 2012, the U.S. removed the MEK from its list of terrorist organizations following numerous requests from prominent figures in America during Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, supporters of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi also held a rally on the first day of the Warsaw conference, displaying the lion and sun flag and photos of their supported leader near the conference venue. Supporters of the former crown prince wore turquoise scarves or handkerchiefs, a color that he recently stated he likes. Alongside photos of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi were slogans such as "Our vote is only for Reza Pahlavi" and "Reza Pahlavi for freedom in Iran." Following the announcement of the Warsaw conference, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a statement warning that ongoing "provocations and unnecessary interventions" by Iran in the Middle East could lead to military conflict being brought into the Warsaw negotiations. He emphasized that such meetings should be "full supporters" of the freedom-seeking movements of the Iranian people. He reiterated these views in recent meetings with several members of the U.S. Congress.