July 10, 2021 — It is an important idea, a strong idea, a fair idea to organize this conference on Iran after the presidential election.
It is important to know that, whatever the complexity of this country and whatever the cultural differences that separate us, that distance us from Iran, for us French and Europeans, we have a sustained attention to what is happening in this great country, which has a great history and a great culture.
A sustained attention because Iran is a key in the Persian Gulf, or the Arabian Gulf, in any case a regional key. In the relationship with Israel, with today’s destabilized countries such as Syria, Iraq and, alas, the unfortunate Lebanon, it is obvious that the revolutionary guards that the religious Iran, clerical Iran, play a considerable role.
This is not a reason to avoid looking deeper into the situation, to take an interest in the public opinion. The presidential election showed that there was a very high abstention rate, almost half, probably because the candidates chosen by the religious authorities did not represent all the opinions …
I do not have the ambition, the pretention to bring a solution. I will simply say that as Europeans and as French people, we are watching what is happening in Iran very carefully, because we know that there will be no prosperity, no lasting peace, no free and respectful exchanges, no solid partnership, unless there is a strong evolution.
Yes, we really have a duty to know what is happening in Iran and to bring this message of attention, this message of listening, and to tell the truth, this message of sympathy, for all those who defend, like European Union, more freedom, more democracy, in daily life. The condition of peace is freedom for everyone. The Iranians have the right to it, entirely.