On 22 October 2020, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a press conference titled Iran Regime’s Terrorism in Europe: EU Obligations. The event was centered around the upcoming trial of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi, and the other agents responsible for plotting the 2018 terrorist attack on the Iranian resistance rally, organized by the NCRI and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran). The conference also considered the responsibility of the EU to take serious action against the regime to ensure they are not emboldened to commit further attacks, protecting international peace and the resistance movement.

Farzin Hashemi, member of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee

Assadollah Assadi, Iran’s diplomat-terrorist on trial in Belgium for his role in a bomb plot targeting the 2018 “Free Iran” conference held by the NCRI back in 2018, from the very beginning tried to raise Vienna Conventions to escape prosecution. This terrorist plot was ordered and blueprinted in Tehran at the highest level of Iranian regime leadership, including the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

Despite the fact that the EU has acknowledged the role of the regime, they have so far refrained from taking concrete action. We hope this will change, and they will take a more firm policy toward the Iranian regime.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran(NCRI)

Today, we are dealing with a unique case.

For the first time, a so-called diplomat carrying a bomb with him is being prosecuted in Europe.

As usual, the religious fascism ruling Iran tried hard to put the blame on the victims, meaning the Iranian Resistance.

On July 2, 2018, while a diplomat-terrorist of the regime carrying a bomb had been arrested, the mullahs’ foreign minister commented about the bombing plot at Villepinte saying that this was a “false flag operation” on the verge of the regime’s President’s visit to Austria.

In February 2019, at a conference in Munich, Zarif said: “It could be a false flag operation.

It could have been entrapment. It could have been a rogue operation.”

The mullahs’ foreign minister had forgotten that he had denied any arbitrary action in the religious tyranny during his remarks on the fifth of November 2018 at the regime’s parliament.

While defending the nuclear deal, Zarif told his adversaries, “We are not an institution to act by ourselves. Is it possible to do something in this country without reporting?”

In my seven-hour testimony during the investigation, I provided details of the decision-making and the enabling process of this operation.

I stressed again that the decision for this operation had been made by Khamenei, Rouhani, Zarif, Alavi, the regime’s intelligence minister, and implemented only afterward.

This is not something new for us.

I leave a discussion of the legal aspects of the case to the distinguished and competent lawyers.

But I want to make a few points here.

1. European countries must set aside all political considerations in this case. The regime’s leaders must be prosecuted and they must face justice. This is a necessary and a preventive measure against terrorism under the name of Islam with the clerical regime as its central banker.

2. Khamenei and Rouhani took a great risk by sending a diplomat to carry out the bombing and slaughter. The reason is that they are extremely vulnerable in the face of the people’s uprisings, the spread of the Resistance’s influence, and the overthrow of their regime.

3. The policy of appeasement has greatly emboldened the regime over the past 40 years. To the extent that their diplomat, who is arrested, makes threats of more terrorist operations even from inside prison.

Today, the European Union is facing a serious and historic test in the face of terrorism under the banner of Islam.

So, what is the EU going to do with the epicenter of terrorism?

• The entire Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC must be designated as terrorist entities.

• Agents of the Intelligence Ministry and the Quds Force must be prosecuted, brought to justice, and expelled.

• The regime’s embassies and their so-called religious and cultural centers must be shut down.

These are indispensable to ensure the security of Europe, and especially the security of Iranian refugees and dissidents. This will bring about the friendship and support of the Iranian people.

The speakers of the conference were in agreement that the EU must put greater pressure on the regime and hold them to account for their terrorist crimes. The trial is due to take place on the 27 November and will be the first time an Iranian diplomat will face prosecution in Europe.

This is a monumental opportunity for European governments to take a strong stance against the theocratic regime and in support of peace and democracy. Several participants of the event also called for Iran’s embassies to be closed and their diplomats dispelled from Europe to defend against further attacks and as a symbol of the end of appeasement for Iran.

The EU must take this opportunity to stand up for the values of democracy, freedom, and peace, in Iran and on an international level.

William Bourdon, renowned lawyer of human rights and international criminal law

Renowned lawyer of human rights and international criminal law, William Bourdon, emphasized the importance of the prosecution of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi:

“The bomb plot could have been devastating. Also, we know that the direct implication of the Iranian state in this disgusting crime is now established. We will make sure that the decision of the judge reflects the seriousness of the crime. For everyone in Europe and elsewhere, it will be clear that next to the four indicted will be sitting the Iranian regime itself…it is indispensable that this diplomat represented a state.”

Rik Vanreusel, criminal law lawyer

 

Criminal law lawyer, Rik Vanreusel, described the symbolic significance of this trial against Assadi and the regime:

“The fifth party will be the Iranian regime, and it might in fact be the first party in this trial.

We expect the verdict to be announced at the end of November, beginning of December. This is a case that symbolizes the protection of European values against dictators. Iranian opposition members are citizens. We will not allow secret agents to commit terrorism under the guise of diplomats.”

Christophe Marchand, lawyer of international criminal law

Lawyer of international criminal law, Cristophe Marchand, outlined how the regime uses terrorism when feeling threatened by the democratic resistance, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran):

“This is one of the most important terrorism cases in the 21st century. This is an attack on democracy, on human rights. The fact that the victims attacked in this case, the NCRI, have been the target of systematic attacks by the regime, and have failed, the Iranian regime has had no other response but to use terrorism to harm the opposition.”

John Sano, Adjunct Professor, The Institute of World Politics; Former Deputy Director, National Clandestine Service, CIA

Adjunct Professor and former Deputy Director for National Clandestine Service in the Central Intelligence Agency, John Sano, detailed the international danger of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS):

“There should be more international outrage toward this crime. Assadi had the audacity to threaten authorities. It is indicative of how brutal the MOIS can be.

The MOIS operates worldwide and uses different methods, through official diplomatic channels and other covers. The MOIS sees their only goal as protecting the regime. In terms of how the MOIS operates, it is a terrorist organization. They are only beholden to the supreme leader. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force are required to report to the MOIS.”

Former Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi

Former Italian Foreign Minister, Giulio Terzi, highlighted how the regime uses embassies across the globe as bases for terrorist activity:

“Terrorism is in all regime embassies. It is unprecedented for a sovereign state, a UN member, to use its diplomatic apparatus to develop terrorist activities. The case reveals volumes about the nature of the Iranian theocracy. We cannot wait any longer to implement a strategy of maximum pressure against this regime of assassins. The regime must understand that it will pay a heavy price.

Robert Torricelli, former U.S. senator

Former U.S Senator, Robert Torricelli, called upon European governments to take a firm stance against the regime and not bow to tactics of intimidation:

“This was an attack not simply on us as individuals, but on European democracy, western values…There was an element of intimidation. No one in the regime has been indicted. No embassies have been closed. No diplomats have been sent home. Let’s contrast this with what Albania did in response to a terrorist attempt on its soil. The relations between the regime and Albania are clearly different now. I hope that the courage and skills of our lawyers are matched by those of the governments that are involved. The burden is now on all of us if we want to assure that no one else is a victim of state-sponsored terrorism.

Robert Joseph, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security

Former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Robert Joseph, emphasized the desperation of the regime as it attempts to assert dominance:

“What does this planned terrorist attack tell us about the regime? It is desperate. It is killing people in the streets. It has aligned itself with the Assad regime. All of these acts show the desperation of the regime. This regime will not moderate its behavior. And this is a regime that has lost all legitimacy with its own people. The people are now the greatest threat to the regime.

As a matter of policy and principle, we must support human rights and democracy in Iran. We must support the democratic opposition inside and outside of Iran. We know regime change comes from inside Iran.”

Claude Moniquet, former French intelligence officer

Former French Intelligence Officer, Claude Moniquet, stated the role that the supreme powers of the regime, including the Supreme Leader Khamenei, have to play in acts of foreign terrorism:

“The decision to resort to terrorism is carried out by the regime’s Supreme National Security Council, where there are key centers of power, including the supreme leader, the president, the speaker of parliament, and the IRGC commander. All of these people are concerned when terror is used as a political tool.

The regime tried to say that Assadi was a rogue element. It must be clear that rogue elements do not exist in the regime. When it comes to serious concerns of the regime, there are no independent elements who carry out terror attacks.”

Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chair of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee

Chair of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee, Mohammad Mohaddessin, highlighted that this is an imperative time for the European Union to take action against the regime:

“At this moment, the reaction of the European Union is very important. While I appreciate the activities of security services in Belgium and other countries, I must reiterate that political decision-makers in the EU should have an appropriate reaction to this major crime. This is a historical test or challenge for the EU, whether they want to stand on their democratic standards or alongside a terrorist regime. This regime will fall.

We call for the embassies of this regime to be closed. All agents of the regime must be expelled from European countries.

Struan Stevenson, former Member of the European Parliament from Scotland

Former Member of the European Parliament from Scotland, Struan Stevenson, expressed that the highest leaders of the regime must be held accountable for the 2018 terrorism plot:

“Diplomats enjoy special privileges. Assadi violated each of the core principles of diplomacy. He’s a known undercover agent of the Iranian regime’s intelligence service. It is clear Assadi could have only acted under orders from the highest leaders of the regime. The terrorists must face European justice. But this trial must also establish the patrons of this crime. They should be indicted.”

Tahar Boumedra, former senior UN official in Iraq

Former Senior UN official in Iraq, Tahar Boumedra, further stressed the regime’s fear of the resistance movement and (PMOI / MEK Iran):

“Based on my experience, I came to the conclusion that Iranian authorities consider the (PMOI / MEK Iran) as the most serious threat to the regime, and hence they see the need to exterminate them.

Two basic tenants characterize the regime. First, the establishment of the IRGC. Second, the export of its ideology. We have already seen what the regime can do in the 1988 massacre. The regime is striving to obtain nuclear bombs. The act of being prosecuted in Belgium stems from the ideology of the regime and was decided at the highest level of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Abolghassem Rezai, senior NCRI member

Senior NCRI member, Abloghassem Rezai, described how the regime attempts to blame the (PMOI / MEK Iran) for its actions and distort the true nature of their acts of terrorism:

“Demonization and terrorism are two sides of the same coin for the regime. In this specific case, the MOIS wanted to pursue both plans at the same time. While they were trying to carry out this terror attack, two known agents of the regime were busy interviewing and spreading false news against the (PMOI / MEK Iran).

In this case, the regime tried to lay the blame for the attack on the Iranian opposition.

European states must define their relationship with the regime based on its terrorist nature, not the appeasement policy.”

MEK Iran (follow them on Twitter and Facebook)

and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTube