Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, was interviewed by the NCRI to further discuss this evolving topic.
While the Iranian regime is beset by home difficulties and international isolation, the year 2021 saw a new high in protests and growing disturbances. Eight enormous protests and revolutions around Iran are a strong indication of the vast majority’s yearning for the downfall of Iran’s governing religious dictatorship.
MEK, resistance units leading protests around the country
In such a situation, a network of “Resistance Units” linked to the Iranian opposition, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran) has escalated the amount and quality of its measures. Many regime officials are continually conceding that these Resistance Units are playing a substantial role in planning, leading, and sustaining protests around the country. Mr. Mohammad Mohaddessin, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, was interviewed by the NCRI to further discuss this evolving topic.
What are the ‘Resistance Units’?
“What has kept this illegitimate regime in power after 43 years is its practice of unbridled domestic crackdown. The religious dictatorship, with a large intelligence force, military, and security institutions, has gone the distance to keep this notion of fear alive throughout the Iranian society that the regime is strong, and no internal or external force can stand against it.”
“The ‘Resistance Units’ are the sledgehammers that break this atmospheric crackdown. Each day in various parts of Iran, under a widespread network of surveillance cameras, right under the noses of thousands of overt and covert agents, they are groups of brave youths that take down the icons of this dictatorship. These Resistance Units are literally on the verge of bringing an end to the regime’s suffocating crackdown.”
The Resistance Units posted a placard in Shiraz that read, ‘There is no force in the world more powerful than our will to achieve freedom,'” the MEK added. Tabriz, Isfahan, Rasht, Mashhad, and Zanjan were among the cities where similar events were staged.”
How many resistance units exist inside Iran? Is this a nationwide movement or limited to a certain region?
“This network is now five years in the making. Thousands of young Iranians are active in many cities, towns, and villages across the country. They’re even carrying out their measures in broad daylight, encouraging people into rising up against the mullahs’ regime, and/or nuisance measures targeting the regime’s security institutions. Each measure by a Resistance Unit plants the seeds of courage into the hearts of hundreds of people. Each measure is a severe blow to this regime’s lifespan.”
“Maryam Rajavi: The burning desire of the rebellious youth for freedom and regime change cannot be extinguished,”
Why do you think these cells can stand up against the ruling regime’s concentrated and armed forces?
“You know very well that the world’s largest conventional armies have been helpless against insurgencies. There are numerous examples throughout history. These members of Resistance Units are among the people and communicating with their locals, planting the ideas and mentality of being active and resistant in the face of the regime’s forces. In markets, schools, and at their workplaces… wherever there is potential for dissent, these activists are there to encourage the people to rise against the regime. They use social media platforms to inform the broader public.”
The MEK Resistance Units posted banners and placards and wrote graffiti in Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Sanandaj, Shahrekord, Saveh, Esfarayen, Neyshabur, Fooladshahr, Yazdanshahr, Shahriar, Dezful, Ardakan, and Varamin.
Do these individuals face any threats, especially considering their various activities?
“Of course. So far, a large number of Resistance Units have been arrested and placed under torture. This ruling regime has issued death sentences for a number of Resistance Units members, and some of them were killed during the November 2019 uprising or murdered in other circumstances last year when the regime’s security forces opened fire. However, the number of youths who join the Resistance Units is far greater than the setbacks inflicted upon them by the regime.”
This ruling regime has issued death sentences for a number of Resistance Units members, and some of them were killed during the November 2019 uprising or murdered in other circumstances last year when the regime’s security forces opened fire.
World powers are currently in talks with Tehran over its nuclear program. Considering other developments regarding the regime’s nuclear dossier, coupled with the talk of the snapback mechanism and a UN Security Council resolution against the regime, what impact will all this have inside Iran’s society?
“What we have seen so far has been the appeasement policy and various countries providing concessions to this regime, playing a very important role in the survival of the mullahs’ rule. This regime has enjoyed the most practical support from the West than any other state in the past 250 years. All the while, the mullahs have been the most active in chanting anti-West slogans.”
“The U.S. approach in the 1980s consisted of the Irangate scandal and pinning hopes and placing bets on the non-existing moderates inside this medieval regime. In the 1990s, the MEK was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization as a “goodwill gesture” to the regime’s so-called moderate president Mohammad Khatami. In the 2000s, we saw the airstrikes targeting MEK bases in Iraq (March and April 2003), the shameful French police raid targeting Iranian Resistance centers near Paris (June 2003), transferring the protection of MEK members in their former home of Camp Ashraf northeast of Baghdad, to the Iran-backed government of Iraq (July 2009) that led to the killing of more than 160 MEK members, are a few examples of the West’s policies with the most impact in prolonging this regime’s lifespan.”
MEK members in their former home of Camp Ashraf northeast of Baghdad, to the Iran-backed government of Iraq (July 2009) that led to the killing of more than 160 MEK members, are a few examples of the West’s policies with the most impact in prolonging this regime’s lifespan.”
Considering the issue you raised, what policy do you recommend?
“In such circumstances, we are hoping that the global community stands firm against the regime and not allow the fascist mullahs to take advantage of the international community’s soft approach, especially that of the West. If you take a look now in response to all the regime’s human rights atrocities, executions, forced disappearances of political prisoners, placing prisoners under extreme torture, what has been the international community’s response? Even their verbal condemnations have become so soft and weak that they’re actually emboldening the regime. If the European Union, at least in general, abided by its own human rights principles, it should have suspended any and all relations with Tehran’s regime, banned the regime’s officials from traveling to Europe, etc.”
If the European Union, at least in general, abided by its own human rights principles, it should have suspended any and all relations with Tehran’s regime, banned the regime’s officials from traveling to Europe, etc.”
It has been more than five years now that the National Council of Resistance of Iran talks about unrest and protests inside Iran. Are these developments heading in the direction of fundamental change in Iran?
“In the struggle between the Iranian people and the mullahs’ regime, we have always been alone. However, that Iranian Resistance, which has delivered the most significant setbacks to the religious dictatorship ruling Iran, will most definitely trek down the final segments of this journey.”If you take a look at the reports of international media, you come to realize the rising number of protests across Iran in parallel to the exponential evolution of these unrests. “
“Therefore, we have every right to be hopeful and not have any fear. The Resistance Units’ message to the world is: Don’t fear this regime and stand firm against it. Borrowing this line from the brave protesters inside Iran, we say to all outside of Iran: Have no fear! The Iranian people are united against this regime!”
The Resistance Units’ message to the world is: Don’t fear this regime and stand firm against it. Borrowing this line from the brave protesters inside Iran, we say to all outside of Iran: Have no fear! The Iranian people are united against this regime!”
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