By Amr Gohar
Washington DC – As political developments continue to unfold in Iran, opposition figures say the current moment could mark a turning point in the country’s future. For years, Iranian activists and members of the opposition have organized demonstrations around the world calling for political change in Iran. One of the most prominent opposition groups is the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which describes itself as Iran’s parliament-in-exile.
Based in Washington, D.C., the NCRI’s U.S. office has played a role in drawing international attention to Iran’s nuclear activities and human rights issues. Soona Samsami, the U.S. Representative of the NCRI, has been active in advocacy for democracy and women’s rights and has spoken at numerous international forums and policy discussions in Washington.
In this exclusive interview, Soona Samsami spoke with journalist Amr Gohar about the latest developments in Iran, the long history of the Iranian resistance movement, and her message to both the Iranian people and countries across the Gulf region.
Amr Gohar: So can I have your name please?
Soona Samsami: Yes, my name is Soona Samsami and I’m the U.S. Representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Washington, D.C.
Amr Gohar: I understand you guys have been demonstrating for years and years now, but we have huge changes happening in Iran at the moment. One of the big news developments is that Khamenei is not there anymore. So how do you see the whole situation now after all these years of demonstrations?
Soona Samsami: Well, about 20 years ago our office in Washington, D.C. made public Iran’s nuclear program. We revealed two nuclear sites that the Iranian regime had been hiding for years—Natanz and Arak. As a result of that revelation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations conducted inspections in Iran and they found that what we revealed was completely true. Even though the world became aware of the danger of the Iranian regime, unfortunately the policy of appeasement toward Tehran continued. The situation we see today, and the challenges the world is facing regarding Iran, are largely the result of that wrong policy.
Amr Gohar: What is your message to the Iranian people inside Iran?
Soona Samsami: The Iranian people are very courageous. Men and women have paid a very high price for their freedom. Because of their resistance units and the organized movement inside Iran, we believe that victory can come through the Iranian people themselves. With the help of the organized Iranian resistance inside Iran, the resistance units, and the National Liberation Army, we believe change in Iran is possible.
Amr Gohar: One more last question. The Gulf countries have been hit badly by the current Iranian regime. What is your message to the people in the Gulf region?
Soona Samsami: Our movement follows Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which calls for peaceful coexistence with all neighboring countries. We believe in working peacefully with the region and building cooperation. Our goal is to bring prosperity not only to Iran, but also to our neighboring countries and the wider world.
Amr Gohar: Thank you so much.
Soona Samsami: Thank you.
Original article
Comments