Struan Stevenson, a former Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Scotland, has dedicated much of his political career to supporting the Iranian Resistance.

Serving in the European Parliament from 1999 to 2014, Stevenson held notable positions, including President of the Delegation for Relations with Iraq and chair of the Friends of a Free Iran intergroup. Stevenson’s engagement with the Iranian Resistance began shortly after his election to the European Parliament in 1999. His commitment was solidified following a disturbing encounter with Iran’s ambassador, who attempted to downplay the regime’s human rights abuses. Stevenson highlighted a tragic case of a 14-year-old girl raped by a Basij member and then sentenced to death for adultery, underscoring the regime’s brutality.

This incident propelled Stevenson to collaborate with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), who were actively raising awareness of the regime’s atrocities. Over two decades, he maintained a strong relationship with the NCRI, significantly shaping his political and personal life.

Despite considerable pressure from Western officials and government members to distance himself from the NCRI, Stevenson remained steadfast. He recounts a notable incident during the campaign to delist the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) from terrorist organizations. In court, Stevenson discovered that a supposed junior member of the UK Foreign Office he had been liaising with was, in fact, an MI5 agent. This revelation highlighted the lengths to which UK intelligence would go to influence his stance on the Iranian Resistance.

Stevenson also expressed his frustrations with Javier Solana, the EU’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. Solana repeatedly blocked Stevenson’s efforts to invite NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi to speak at the European Parliament, fearing it would upset Tehran and disrupt nuclear negotiations. Stevenson pointed out the irony that the NCRI, the group exposing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, was being sidelined to appease the aggressor.

Throughout his advocacy, Stevenson developed deep respect for Maryam Rajavi, praising her leadership and resilience. He noted the regime’s contradictory actions, claiming the PMOI lacked support while heavily investing in defamation campaigns and assassination attempts against its members. This, Stevenson argued, highlighted the regime’s fear of the Resistance.

Reflecting on his book “Iran’s Democratic Revolution,” Stevenson expressed his belief that the remnants of the former monarchical dictatorship have no future in Iran. He envisions a democratic Iran emerging after the fall of the clerical regime, led by those committed to freedom and human rights.

Stevenson also commented on the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the former Iranian regime’s president and a member of the Death Commission, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19. Stevenson viewed this as a significant moment in the struggle against the Iranian regime, symbolizing a potential shift towards justice for those who suffered under Raisi’s brutal tenure.