IRAN in a Corner (Guest: NCRI Spokesman)

Mullahs Facing Pressure on Multiple Fronts

For decades, the Iranian mullahs have brutally repressed the Iranian people. Whether through public displays of grisly executions to suppress dissent or by violently beating back uprisings against armless civilians, the Mullahs have been fomenting anger among the Iranian people since coming to power in 1979.

The value of the Iranian currency continues to plummet. Basic necessities, like electricity, are frequently interrupted, and food prices are still skyrocketing. In response to the public anger, the Mullahs are ratcheting up the brutality. In 2009, a young woman named Neda became the face of that uprising when she was shot in the chest and died in the street, on video.

In addition to these geopolitical and economic pressures, the Mullahs suffered a crippling defeat last month with the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Assad represented Iran’s staunchest ally in the region. Now that Assad is gone, there are forces at work aggressively looking to fill that power vacuum, not the least of which is the Muslim Brotherhood, which also is aligned with the nation of Turkey, a NATO member.

The loss of Assad has placed Iran in an even more precarious position, both regionally and domestically. Without Syria as a conduit for arms and support to Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran’s influence in the Levant has been significantly weakened. Additionally, Israel, which has long viewed Iranian expansionism as a direct threat, has stepped up its military operations to counter Iranian entrenchment in Syria and beyond.

Meanwhile, discontent inside Iran is boiling over. Protests against economic mismanagement, corruption, and the suppression of basic freedoms continue to erupt despite brutal crackdowns. The younger generation, armed with social media and emboldened by the failures of the regime, no longer fears the consequences of dissent. Women, in particular, have played a leading role in recent uprisings, defying mandatory hijab laws and openly challenging the morality police.

With international sanctions still squeezing the economy and a growing chorus of Iranians demanding change, the Mullahs are running out of options. Their response has been predictable—more repression, more arrests, more executions. However, history has shown that such tactics can only delay the inevitable. The people of Iran, weary of decades of oppression, are increasingly determined to reclaim their country from the grip of the clerical establishment.

As the regime teeters, the world watches closely. Will the Iranian people finally succeed in bringing about meaningful change, or will the Mullahs manage to cling to power through sheer force? The answer may well determine the future of the Middle East.

The NCRI has the support of the Iranian people and much of the international community. What makes any potential uprising or revolution different than previous ones remains to be seen but there is no question that international events very well could contribute to a different outcome than what the people of Iran have seen before.

Related Article(s)

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Iran Opposition & Resistance | Iran Religious Freedom

Q&A:

1. Given the continued repression by the Iranian regime, what specific strategies is the NCRI implementing to mobilize internal resistance within Iran?
2. With the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the shifting regional dynamics, how does the NCRI view Iran’s influence in the Middle East? What opportunities does this present for the opposition?
3. Economic instability and public dissatisfaction are growing in Iran. What role does the NCRI see for international sanctions in pressuring the regime, and how can they be made more effective?
4. Women have played a significant role in the recent uprisings. How is the NCRI supporting women’s rights activists and ensuring they have a leadership role in Iran’s future?
5. Iran’s youth are increasingly disillusioned with the regime and active in protests. How is the NCRI engaging with and supporting this younger generation in their fight for freedom?
6. As Iran faces internal and external challenges, how realistic is a transition away from the clerical regime? What would an NCRI-led government look like, and how would it differ from the current system?
7. The Iranian regime has relied on brutal crackdowns to suppress dissent. What measures can the international community take to protect Iranian protesters and hold the regime accountable?
8. Given Iran’s support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah, how would an NCRI-led Iran approach foreign policy and regional security 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.

CONTACT:

For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or Bookings@SpecialGuests.com