July 11, 2021 — Good evening everyone. It is my pleasure to be your guest at the Global Online Summit on Iran. I thank for the invitation the President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Ms. Maryam Rajavi, and all the members of the Council.
Being here today, together with other fellow MEPs, I believe it is important to witness and reaffirm our commitment to the creation of the conditions for a different Iran than as it is today, in other words, a democratic, secular and non-nuclear republic.
Commitment that Europe and the international community will have to strengthen after the elections of last June 18, when Emir Ebrahim Raisi, chosen by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was elected.
Raisi is a famous person accused of countless crimes against humanity and human rights committed in more than thirty years of leading roles in the Iranian regime. Moreover, the “fast track” obtained by Raisi towards the presidency is a clear sign of the Supreme Guide’s will to elect a new president willing to do anything to eliminate any form of opposition or dissidence.
From his first statements we understand, clearly that he will be the executive officer of Ayatollah Khamenei, who will continue to guide policies both domestically and abroad more than before.
There will be no possibility of change in terms of what we in the West, and I personally, envision and wish for.
The respect for human rights by the Iranian authorities is a key component in the development of EU-Iran relations. The human rights situation has been continually deteriorating for many years in Iran. The EU and its member states cannot and should not turn their backs on the Iranian people who have suffered immensely under the current regime.
In this regard, I consider positively that during the last plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, we voted two resolutions, one on Iran and one on the Magnatisky Act in order to ask the EU for additional targeted sanctions, including the block on property of officials of the Iranian regime and entities involved in unfair trial, arbitrary detention and execution of all Iranian citizens, with dual citizenship and foreigners.
However, the low turnout – the lowest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution – due to requests by dissidents and some reformists for a boycott in response to the exclusion of several prominent candidates, are a clear sign that the majority of Iranians have long been demonstrating, despite the repression, a now total intolerance towards the ruling regime.
The Iranian people are no longer willing to accept and endorse the pervasive corruption, total incompetence and, the immense waste of wealth in senseless military adventures and terrorist activities, which have led the country to isolation.
It is therefore essential to fully support the Iranian people and opposition who are fighting for a free, pluralistic and democratic Iran. Only then, the days of the current Iranian regime will be counted. The regime knows this and that is why the cruel repression inside the country has been growing.
There is no future in engaging with the current political establishment, as they have only one interest: maintaining power.
This is why, in order to support real change in Iran, we must engage with the Iranian opposition. We must cooperate and strengthen our relationship for the benefit of the Iranian people, human rights, peace and security in the region and over.
To do this, transatlantic cooperation and solidarity is of enormous importance, so that European and U.S. negotiators agree on a common position to address Iran’s broader aggressive policies, including its ballistic missile program. Moreover, to firmly condemn Iran’s terrorist activities in Europe, including the purposeful assassinations of Iranian dissidents, as well as Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
I believe that by the discussion taking place in this summit will come ideas and proposals to strengthen the collaboration and cooperation between all the actors who care about the future of Iran, and who hope that in the future it can be a reliable partner with whom to collaborate in a spirit of trust and sharing.
[Keep up the good work]