Maryam Rajavi attends the hearing of the Italian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee

At noon on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, Maryam Rajavi arrived at Italy’s Chamber of Deputies to participate in a hearing hosted by the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The focus of the committee’s discussion was the issue of Iran, and they had extended a special invitation to Maryam Rajavi as a distinguished guest.

Upon her arrival at the parliament, Maryam Rajavi received a warm welcome from Senator Giulio Terzi, as well as a group of MPs and Senators. Additionally, a gathering of Iranians had assembled outside the parliament to extend their welcome to her.

During her address at the hearing, Maryam Rajavi provided a comprehensive overview of the situation in Iran.

She said. “The present situation in Iran is characterized by three key elements: First, we witness the Iranian people’s courageous protests and uprisings to overthrow the mullahs’ regime. Second, the activities of the organized Resistance inside Iran have expanded significantly. And third, it is essential to recognize the regime’s utter inability to effectively address the pressing social, economic, and political crises that plague our nation. These elements collectively shape the domestic and international policies of the ruling mullahs.”

She added, “Several fundamental principles guide the clerical regime’s regional and international policies: First, it remains steadfast in pursuing the development of a nuclear bomb, maintaining its ballistic missile program, and engaging in regional warmongering. Second, it does not intend to stop its acts of terrorism and hostage taking. Third, it continues to make deals with other governments to exert pressure on the Iranian Resistance.

“The clerical regime exploits European markets to procure resources for its nuclear and missile programs, as well as for the production of drones. But the most important element in the regime’s strategy is exploiting its relations with Europe to impose restrictions on the Iranian Resistance and impede the progress of uprisings.

“In recent weeks, the mullahs repeatedly engaged in secret negotiations with Western governments to exert pressure on the Iranian Resistance.

“The need for a change in the European Union’s policy towards the clerical regime has never been more crucial than it is today. Recently, both chambers of the Italian parliament expressed their support for the Iranian Resistance, highlighting the imperative of a shift in European policy regarding Iran.”

Maryam Rajavi called upon the government of Italy and the European Union to embrace a comprehensive policy towards the Iranian regime, encompassing the following steps:

Designating the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and actively confronting its presence outside of Iran, including in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and elsewhere.

Recognizing the Iranian people’s right to self-defense against the IRGC, as well as their right to overthrow the regime and establish a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state.

Activating the trigger mechanism and implementing snapback sanctions by reinstating the six UN Security Council resolutions on Iran. This includes shutting down all nuclear and missile programs that violate UN resolutions and resuming unconditional inspections of nuclear and missile facilities.

Referring the dossier of the regime’s flagrant and systematic human rights violations to the UN Security Council and holding the regime’s leaders accountable for 40 years of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Severing economic exchanges and imposing comprehensive sanctions on the regime, particularly through an oil embargo and a ban on banking relations. This will effectively cut off the regime’s financial lifelines that enable domestic repression, nuclear weapons development, terrorism, and regional interference.

Declaring the regime as a threat to global peace and security and placing it under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Italian MPs Emanuele Pozzolo, Giangiacomo Calovini, as well as Senators Giulio Terzi, Marco Scurria, and Raffaele Speranzon, participated in the hearing and delivered their respective addresses.