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The Beginning Of The End?
All these developments .strongly indicate that the clerical
regime is in deep trouble. We believe we are witnessing the beginning
of the end of a long nightmare called the Islamic Republic. The clerical regime in Iran, in its 16 years of dictatorial rule,
has destroyed the national economy, abolished the basic rights
of the Iranian people, undermined the cultural foundation of the
Iranian society, and contributed to the isolation of Iran internationally.
It has become increasingly evident that this clerical regime poses
a threat to the peace and security of the region, to the national
security interests of the U.S., and to the national security and
territorial integrity of Iran itself. Within the past year, increasing
evidence has pointed to the clerics' single-minded determination
to achieve nuclear weapons capability: a situation which would
significantly upset the region's balance of power, and increase
the threat to the security of _Saudi Arabia, Israel and any other
-government which would not accede to the radical political and
religious agenda of the ruling clerics. The manifestation of this threat has long been apparent to those
intimately acquainted with the internal and external affairs of
Iran. However, it has taken a bit longer for many senior government
officials and the news media to appreciate this fact. In realization of this threat, the Azadegan Foundation has been
able to obtain the endorsement of many of America's most important
and respected retired military leaders reprinted in this edition
of Focus on Iran, has appeared in The Washington Times newspaper
in Washington and in Le Monde newspaper in Paris. What makes the
endorsements particularly important and meaningful is the fact
that the endorsers, perhaps more than others, are acutely aware
of Iran's strategic significance in the region, and the necessity
for the establishment of a stable, democratic government in Iran,
as the key to the promotion of peace and security in the region.
Many important members of the U.S. Congress have also voiced
their concerns and opinions recently about the behavior of the
clerical regime in Iran, and the threat it poses to the international
community. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich,
addressing the AFCEA conference on Information Warfare, on February
8, 1995, stated "... we cannot tolerate the continued spread
of Islamic totalitarianism and the danger of an Iranian state
that would have nuclear weapons . .." ". . . All of
this is designed to force the replacement of the current regime
in Iran, the only long-range solution that makes any sense."
Likewise, Senator John McCain of Arizona, a member of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, has addressed the problem of Iran's
acquiring of nuclear weapons. In a letter to Dr. Lynn Davis, Under
Secretary of State for International Security Affairs, he pointed
out that Iran was obtaining a light water nuclear reactor from
Russia, which will eventually produce spent fuel, thus giving
the fanatical clerical regime access to materials for the production
of nuclear weapons. Senator All'onse D'Amato of New York, Chairman of the Senate
Banking Committee, has introduced legislation instituting a total
trade embargo between the United States and the Islamic Republic
of Iran. The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Act of 1995 will end
the ability of U.S. oil companies to buy Iranian oil and then
sell it on the open market. He is quoted as saying that "the
U.S. is subsidizing Iranian terrorism by purchasing their oil
. . ." Senator D'Amato believes that fully 25% of Iranian
oil sales worth about $3.5-billion in 1993 were made through U.S.
companies. Senator D'Amato also noted that the Clerical government adopted
an arms budget estimated at over $50-billion for five years. "Iran
is arming itself to the teeth, and we are simply ignoring it.
Iran's purchase of military items from China and North Korea coupled
with it's ongoing receipt of U.S. dual-use exports is dangerous".
"Iran's continued effort at obtaining weapons of mass destruction,
as well as its pursuit of an Islamic fundamentalist, anti-American
bloc, speak volumes about its intent in the world today. It should
be clear to all that Iran aims to built itself' into a regional
nuclear power intent on spreading it's will by force. We cannot
sit back and allow this band of terrorists to grow into a monster
better able to threaten the peace process in the Middle East."
It should be noted that Congressman Bill McCullum of Florida
has long been a leading critic of the fanatical clerics, and an
advocate of support for democratic, moderate Iranians political
elements as a means of replacing the current regime in Iran. Also in August 1994, Retired Brigadier General Azizollah Amir-Rahimi,
who sided with the revolution in 1979, in an open letter denounced
the Islamic regime for its barbaric suppression of the people,
violation of human rights and mismanagement of the economy, and
demanded the return of the clerics to the Mosque, and the creation
of a National Salvation Government. (Gen. Amir-Rahimi and his
son have been subsequently arrested, and their whereabouts are
unknown at this time.) Again in August 1994, following the Ghazvin riots, a group of
Commanders of the Army and the Revolutionary Guard, in a statement,
declared that the Islamic regime should not count on the armed
forces to quell unrest and confront the people. They categorically
stated that the sworn duty of the Armed Forces was to defend the
integrity of the country, not the suppression of the people. The imprisonment and torture of the highly reputed and well known
Iranian literary figure, Professor Ali-Akbar Saidi-Sirjani, which
led to his death in October of 1994, disturbed the conscience
of the entire nation including the 4-million Iranians in exile.
In early 1994, Mr. Manoutchchr Moatamer, a high official of the
Ministry of Intelligence, defected to Latin America, and from
there to the United States. Mr. Moatamer has brought a wealth
of information and sensitive microfilms revealing the harsh repression
and violation of the Iranian people as well as the terrorist activities
of the clerical regime, and their support for radical revolutionaries
worldwide. In early January 1995, it was reported by informed sources that
Hojatol Islam Ali Fallahian Khuzestani, the Minister of Intelligence,
with his wife, two sons, a daughter, and the wife of Ayatollah
Montazeri, had defected to a neighboring country. Indeed, Fallahian
has not heen seen for over five weeks. Azadegan will, in due course,
make announcements as appropriate concerning this sensitive issue.
All these developments strongly indicate that the clerical regime
is in deep trouble. We believe we are witnessing the beginning
of the end of a long nightmare called the Islamic Republic. We also believe that the clerical regime, in order to prevent
a catastrophe, and to secure the safety of its ranks, should hand
power over to a capable and strong national government. A government
which would take control without bloodshed. A government dedicated
to political freedom and economic development. A government capable
of dealing with the myriads of problems created by the inept clergy.
A government whose priority will be the well being and security
of the people. The Challenge in Iran Instability is growing at a rapid pace inside Iran. Increasing
widespread repression, massive political imprisonment, primitive
torture, all aggravated by worsening economic conditions, under
a regime created by the clerical fanatics, have produced riots
in many cities. The armed forces, professional military and some
elements of the Revolutionary Guards (created by this regime)
have become disaffected. During the past year several respected
retired officers who sided with the 1979 revolution have criticized
and denounced the The Islamic Republic of Iran promotes inter- national terrorism
to undermine the efforts of peace in the middle East. It supports
the Hezhollah in Lebanon, the Harms in Gaza and the west Bank,
and radical revolutionary, groups in Egypt, Algeria and the Sudan.
'l he World Trade Center bombing in New York and similar incidents
in Buenos Aires and London likely had their origins in Tehran.
Iranian instability has profound implications for the Persian
Gull the Middle East, generally, and former Soviet Central Asia.
Iran's size and its 60 million people, its traditional leadership
role, and its potential economic power underlie its geopolitical
significance in the region and worldwide as a major oil producer.
An Iranian regime that would put an end to the violations of President Clinton and Secretary of State Christ- opher are to
be congratulated on their insight and farsightedness in presenting
a report to congress rejecting the People's Mojahedin of Iran
(I'MOI) as an alternative to the present regime. The State Department
report of October 1994 lays out clearly that installing the anti-American
terrorist group which draws its main support from Iraqi dictator
Saddam Hussein, while it opposes the present Tehran government,
would be exchanging one despotism for another. We believe that the U.S. must help in finding an acceptable alternative
to the present regime of the clerical fanatics. It should be a
government responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Iranian
people, The vast majority of Iranians want the establishment of
human rights inside the country and an end to the waste of resources
on state terrorism abroad. And they support the goal of peace
and stability in the area which such Iranian policies would go
a long way toward achieving The U.S. must help those democratic forces inside and outside
Iran which would build such a policy. Most Iranians want a return
to the country's traditional policy of friendship and cooperation
with the United States. What Iranians need and those inside the country secretly seek
is the continued and reinforced moral support of the United States
in putting an end to Iranian domestic tyranny and its international
terrorism.
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