Questions from Al-Watan, Arabic paper in Saudi Arabia

1- What is your opinion about the session known as the Gulf Leaders 37 and the British PM’s participation?

I read the final resolution of the Gulf States’ summit. The emphasis in one clear voice by the Gulf States was aimed at the eviction of the Iranian regime from this sensitive region of the globe and an end to the mullahs’ meddling in regional countries. I believe that this is a very important and positive step. The most important threat for this region and the entire world is the Iranian regime’s export of terrorism that has led to instability and has ignited religious wars.

It is crystal clear that the tougher the stance taken by the Gulf States vis-à-vis the Iranian regime, the more effective they will be in preventing Tehran’s meddling in the region. We know from past experience that whenever the Iranian regime detects any sign of weakness or doubt, it redoubles its efforts to meddle and ignite conflict.

This session was held for the first time with the attendance of the British Prime Minister, indicating a major sign of the tides changing in global policies towards Iran’s aggressive interference in the region. GCC leaders and the British Prime Minister Theresa May announced in this session a strategic security/political/trade alliance. All participants are committed to cooperate in confronting Iran’s aggression. Prime Minister May in her speech emphasized we must continue to confront parties that have increased their measures aimed at destabilizing the region. She also emphasized to Gulf leaders her full knowledge of Iran’s threat for the Gulf and the entire Middle East clarifying the need to work together to prevent Iran’s hostile measures in the region.

Naturally, these are very good positions of which I approve. I have personally repeatedly warned about Iran’s threat in the region and across the globe, calling on regional and Western states to stand up to the Iranian regime and not to appease or engage it. I am now happy that the world is waking up and standing against the mullahs’ barbarity. When you take a look at the results of this session once again we become determined that the era of rapprochement and appeasement with the mullahs’ regime has come to an end and now we are witnessing the Gulf States and the UK issuing a joint statement agreeing to defeat extremism, including Daesh (ISIS/ISIL). In my opinion and those of many others, the Iranian regime is the godfather of the Daesh phenomenon. 

2. The session’s final statement calls for action against the Iranian regime for its meddling in regional countries. Our question is why is the Iranian regime meddling in the internal affairs of regional countries. Does this represent Iran’s strength, or is it because of its weakness?

I want to say that today it is no longer difficult to reach such a conclusion that the Iranian regime is meddling in regional countries due to its overall weakness. Ever since Khomeini’s era to this very day, this regime has pursued a comprehensive expansionist strategy, in an attempt to export its brand of theocratic fundamentalist fascism. The joint Gulf States statement shows how regional states have reached the conclusion that attempts to pursue a policy of appeasement with the Iranian regime will never render any positive results. Peace and stability in the Middle East is guaranteed only through the mullahs’ overthrow.

It is obvious that this regime’s meddling is aimed at creating conflict and crises, which they then attempt to exploit. Regime officials, especially its former Defense Minister, have emphasized this continuously. Recently, however, the Iranian regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei himself has blatantly underlined this aggressive strategy when he addressed relatives of a number of Iranian military personnel killed in Syria. He said: “One without any insight would ask why does Syria and Aleppo matter to Iran. This question comes from lacking insight. The worthy approach would be not to wait for the enemy to come to our home, and not only should we think about defending our own backyard, but we should also quell the enemy in its own borders.”

3. What measures does Iran resort to send weapons to its proxy forces in the region, specifically in Yemen, Syria and Iraq? What objective is Tehran pursuing in such meddling?

The regime’s meddling in regional countries is an existential matter for Tehran. Today, Khamenei himself is saying that if they don’t fight in Syria they will have to fight in Tehran. This is a blatant and disgraceful attempt to justify Iran’s aggressive involvement in regional conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and many other regional countries. They clearly use this as justification for sending arms and military personnel to all of these neighbouring countries. This includes smuggling weapons on ships bearing the flag of other countries. They continually supply arms, personnel and financial assistance to their own proxy forces, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen and the brutal Shi’ia militias in Iraq. They also provide support to the former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and his faction in the Iraqi government. 

One very common and effective method used by the Iranian regime is to construct weapons factories. Many such factories, which manufacture and distribute weapons, have been launched in territories held by Iran’s proxies. The regime has discovered that this is a more effective way of arming their proxies and avoids the problem of having ships stopped and their illegal weapons cargoes confiscated. The presence of the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) and their affiliated militias in these countries and the transfer of weapons to these states are flagrant violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Therefore, it is clear to see that this regime is involved in state-sponsored terrorism and unfortunately the entire world has to this day remained silent in this regard.

This regime is the godfather of terrorism in the world and this is exactly why Daesh has been able to emerge, thanks to Tehran’s meddling in Iraq and Syria, along with their support for malevolent leaders like al-Maliki and Assad. Daesh is the organisation profiting most from Iran’s lethal meddling in the region. Iran is also involved in supporting al-Qaeda, as the group’s senior officials are seen continuously commuting to Tehran.

4- What role can the Iranian opposition, namely the National Council of Resistance and PMOI, play in the standoff against the Iranian regime? What’s your opinion about relations between Arab countries and the Iranian resistance, and how should it be?

In standing up to the Iranian regime, the Iranian opposition has of course a clear and leading role, and this can be understood from the hysterical reactions of the mullahs. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its main force, the Mojahedin Khalq (MEK), have an active presence in Iran and are constantly sounding the alarm across the world about what has happened and is happening under the reign of this oppressive regime. The NCRI, under the inspiring leadership of Mrs Maryam Rajavi is the real democratic alternative to the Iranian regime and it enjoys vast support from within Iran and in the international context.

Arabic and Islamic countries need an Iranian element and factor in order to stand against the current theocratic fascist regime in Iran. Any coalition or alliance against the Iranian regime can only be effective when it includes this clear Iranian voice, the voice of the NCRI. There should be no doubt that peace and security will return to this region after this regime is overthrown and this is something that will not happen through foreign intervention but will be done by the Iranian people themselves and their resistance.