Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy director, stated on Twitter on Sunday that the EU “condemns in the strongest terms the unlawful attack committed on the merchant’s vessel Mercer Street off the coast of Oman on July 29.”

The merchant’s vessel Mercer Street

Following a study of debris from the explosive-laden drone that targeted the ship, killing two people on board, the incident was firmly attributed to the Iranian government days earlier.

On the surface, Borrell’s rhetoric appeared to be powerful, and he was regarded as “unequivocal” in several media reports. Even if this is true, the statement’s value is undermined by the fact that it was also non-committal. Worse, Borrell’s decision to send his deputy to the inauguration of Ebrahim Raisi, a mass murderer, as the regime’s new president sends a clear message that the regime might continue to enjoy impunity and blackmail the West regardless of what the regime does or what position the EU takes.

 

 

All evidence pointed to Iran’s involvement in the Mercer Street incident

The same could be seen in nearly every other statement made by Western governments and international organizations. The G7 was first to acknowledge that all evidence pointed to Iran’s involvement in the Mercer Street incident, and it called on the Iranian regime to “stop all activities in violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

Despite this, no entity has proposed a concrete plan of action for holding the regime accountable.

 

 

In retaliation to the Iranian strike, even the US has been vague

In retaliation to the Iranian strike, even the US has been vague. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed his call for “collective action” that will result in the punishment of those involved.

“Failure to do so will only feed their sense of impunity and embolden others inclined to break the maritime order,” he warned. Despite these remarks, he made few particular proposals for how the United States and its partners could impose responsibility.

 

 

Iran’s alarming behavior deserves a strong response

While Iran’s alarming behavior deserves a strong response, The People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), claimed in a recent piece on its website that “Western states continue to give the regime a free pass for its crimes.”

In some ways, this is the result of inaction, such as when they refuse to apply stronger sanctions and pursue international prosecution for marine attacks and other illegal activities.

 

 

More attacks on maritime transportation

More attacks on maritime transportation, as well as other dangers to world peace and security, are likely if the EU and the international community as a whole do not take prompt action to withdraw the legitimacy offer made to the Raisi administration on August 5.

 

 

The Democratic Resistance movement

They may also expect a rise in Tehran’s brutal repression of its own citizens, but the vast majority of Iranians will undoubtedly fight, as they have done since the January 2018 revolt that first took calls for regime change into the mainstream.

The international community must demonstrate sympathy with the democratic Resistance movement, isolate the Raisi government, and make it clear that any further escalation in hostile operations, whether at home or abroad, will be appropriately punished.

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook)

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