The final days before the sentencing of Iranian diplomat-cum-bomb attacker, Assadollah Assadi and his three accomplices has resulted in a much-needed statement by 20 former EU officials highlighting just how important and relevant the trial is to Europe. pean Iran relationships.

Assadollah Assadi and his three accomplices

Just to recap, Assadollah Assadi was a diplomat based in Iran’s Vienna Embassy. He had strong ties to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security in Iran. He was arrested in Germany after meeting with two Belgian Iranians in a KFC restaurant in Luxembourg where he passed over a bomb and detonator.

The two accomplices were arrested while driving with the explosives down to Villepinte near Paris where the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI), and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran)’s Free Iran Rally was being held at the end of June 2018.

A third accomplice was later arrested whose role appears to be someone who was checking to see the extent of the damage done to the rally after the bomb exploded. Fortunately, many hundreds of lives were saved as the attack was thwarted by a coordinated security effort.

Entire mullahs regime responsible for the decision

One of the prime targets of the bomb attack was the president-elect of the NCRI, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi.

The significance of the evidence presented at the trial goes well beyond the immediate efforts of the four who are soon to be sentenced as the real organizers and planners were those in the regime in Tehran responsible for the decision to wreak havoc in the heart of Europe.

The statement by more than 20 senior former members of the EU governments reads as follows:

EUROPE NEEDS TO BE FIRM AGAINST #IRAN’S STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM.#EUTIME4FIRMIRANPOLICYHTTPS://T.CO/CLKRMITBCL PIC.TWITTER.COM/CNYYQPCRX4

— INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE (ISJ) (@ISJCOMMITTEE) JANUARY 28, 2021

 

 

Specific measures that should be taken according to the statement included:

• “The activities of Iran’s embassies and religious and cultural centers need to be scrutinized.”
• “Diplomatic relations with Iran should be downgraded.”
• “The European Union should designate Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC in their entirety as terrorist entities.”

These measures are both correct and overdue according to the Iranian opposition movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s (NCRI), and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran) who was in the firing line of the bomb attack. Belgian authorities were in fact intimidated and threatened throughout the 2 year period that led to the trial.

Diplomatic immunity was refused

Assadi was not the only diplomat based in Europe involved in terrorism. It was a surprise both to him and the Iranian regime that he was arrested. It was thought that his diplomatic status was enough for him to get away with his crime.

In this case, diplomatic immunity was refused because he was accused of potential mass murder and was actually arrested outside the geographical borders of Austria where he was posted as a diplomat. Perhaps more significantly Iran routinely arrests foreign dignitaries and individuals and uses them as pawns in acts of blackmail against the governments who represent them.

 

 

Iranian regime acts have been engendered by a policy of appeasement

The sense of impunity with which the Iranian regime acts has been engendered by a policy of appeasement towards the regime by European authorities which has placed the economic importance of a relationship between Iran and Europe ahead of its human rights consequences.

The trial of Assadi and the determination of Belgian authorities to see the trial right through to its bitter end is a step in the right direction for Europe. In the past, despite what may appear to have been strong verbal condemnation of Tehran’s more heinous activities this hasn’t been followed up by action.

The bomb attack that could have killed hundreds of Europe’s own citizens may have jolted European leaders into realizing they have to do more than make oral statements of condemnation.

 

 

Iranian state-sponsored terrorists

The Assadi attack is one in a long line of such atrocities carried out by Iranian state-sponsored terrorists. Iranian opposition leaders and members have been assassinated and attacked frequently in the past without the assailants being held to account apart from a verbal ticking off and expulsion back to Iran.

The statement by the International Committee in Search of Justice and the final expected sentencing of Assadi and the three accomplices confirms just how serious the threat of Iran’s theocratic dictatorship is and how important it is for European leaders to take concrete action to show Iran’s regime that its actions are not tolerated.

If the Iranian regime refuses to change its ways, Europe should not hesitate to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran and expel its so-called diplomats.

 

 

The abridged version of an article written by Mohammad Sadat Khansari for the NCRI.

MEK Iran (follow them on Twitter and Facebook)

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