IraNATO? Tehran Mullahs Test Waters for Islamic NATO while NCRI calls for Regime’s Ouster
In the wake of Israel’s strike on Qatar, the Iranian regime is floating the possibility of an “Islamic NATO”—a unified defense structure led by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). With leaders of Muslim nations meeting in Doha, two countries in particular have emerged as would-be spearheads of this effort: Egypt, under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Iran.
This development occurs as President Donald Trump and Iran’s president are scheduled to deliver separate speeches, one day apart, at the United Nations on September 23rd and 24th. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is organizing a protest in New York City at the same time and is expecting “thousands” of Iranian Americans to voice their opposition to the Iranian regime.
The gathering, coinciding with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, is set for September 23 at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and is being organized by the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
Ambassador Carla Sands, former U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, General Tod Wolters, former NATO Commander, and Linda Chavez, former White House Office of Public Liaison will be among the prominent American dignitaries joining thousands of Iranians in New York this month to stand against the Iranian regime’s escalating human rights abuses and nuclear provocations.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has been calling for regime change in Iran and is available to provide context on this huge development. Deputy Director Alireza Jafarzadeh, Member of Parliament in Exile Shahin Gobadi, and others are available for interviews.
While this talk of an “Islamic NATO” may be dismissed by some as saber rattling, it would be a mistake to ignore the implications. If the OIC—an organization of 57 Muslim-majority states—moved toward becoming a military bloc, it would pose profound consequences for the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond. The central concern is that Tehran, the chief state sponsor of terrorism, is angling to position itself as a leader of this unification.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) warns that this prospect underscores the urgent need to end the current regime in Tehran. As long as the clerical dictatorship remains in power, any talk of regional military alliances will be driven by hostility toward the United States, Israel, and democratic allies. But with regime change, the picture could look very different. A free Iran would be positioned to act as a stabilizing force—bringing cooler heads to the table and reshaping regional cooperation in a way that favors peace, not escalation.
Beyond geopolitics, the feasibility of a Middle Eastern NATO is fraught with contradictions. For example, Turkey, a NATO member with the second-largest army in the alliance, is also part of the OIC. It is inconceivable that Ankara could straddle both organizations if the OIC attempted to militarize. This raises critical questions about the credibility of the proposal and the degree to which Tehran is simply exploiting regional tensions to project influence.
Next week, President Donald Trump will address the U.N. General Assembly. The following day so will the president of Iran. The NCRI is urging the Trump administration to use this moment to support the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the regime. Only then can the U.S. look forward to a new Iran—one that aligns with America’s interests and helps defuse dangerous talk of a Middle Eastern NATO.
Speakers Available:
Alireza Jafarzadeh – Deputy Director of NCRI
Shahin Gobadi – Nuclear Engineer and member of NCRI
Ali Safavi – Member of NCRI Parliament in Exile
Related Article(s)
Iran Calls for Islamic NATO – Newsweek
Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – Wikipedia
National Council of Resistance of Iran – NCRI
Trump to address 80th UN General Assembly on Sept 23: White House – The Economic Times
Optional Q&A
- What is the NCRI’s assessment of Iran positioning itself to lead an “Islamic NATO”?
- How credible are the discussions in Doha—serious strategy or just saber rattling?
- What risks would a militarized OIC pose to U.S. interests and regional stability?
- How does the NCRI envision a post-regime Iran engaging with the OIC?
- Could Turkey realistically balance membership in NATO and a militarized OIC?
- Why should the U.S. prioritize regime change in Iran over containing these talks?
- What role do you see for Egypt in this push for unification alongside Iran?
- How would a free Iran shift the dynamics of regional alliances in the Middle East?
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal Iranian affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
This material is distributed by Special Guests Publicity LLC on behalf of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) / Media Strategy Consulting LTD. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
CONTACT:
For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SeasonalLiving.com
