Experts Applaud Blacklisting of IRGC, Underscore Need for Policy to Support Regime Change by Iranian People

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a panel discussion at the United States Senate, foreign policy experts welcomed the congressional passage of H.R. 3364, which includes a title on "Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017," and subjects the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to Executive Order 13224 sanctions for Specially Designated Global Terrorists entities.
Speakers at the event, sponsored by the Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC), and moderated by OIAC advisory board member Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, emphasized that the next step should be to adopt a comprehensive strategy in dealing with Iran, focused on recognizing the rights of the Iranian people for regime change.

Ambassador Robert Joseph, who in 2003 helped U.S. government negotiate the dismantling of Libya's nuclear program, referred to the JCPOA as "a disaster," and added, "the revelations recently made public by the National Council of Resistance of Iran make clear that Iran's nuclear and missile programs are alive and well and moving forward." He added the key in Iran is regime change from within…We need to give the people of Iran a sense that we are supportive of their aspirations for freedom and democracy", adding, "I find that Madame Rajavi's position, the agenda that she espouses, the ten-point plan, really strike all of the right themes, democracy, human rights, secularism, nuclear nonproliferation, equality between the sexes."    

"If you actually look at what the IRGC has done simply in Iraq," added Michael Pregent of the Hudson Institute, "those activities have actually prolonged the war in Iraq and spread it to Syria." As for the NCRI, which he described as "impressive," Pregent said, " I saw an umbrella organization with a charismatic leader, a principled position."

Nader Uskowi of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted, "the whole of the IRGC needs to be dismantled." Dismantling the IRGC, "would help dismantling the regime."

American Foreign Policy Council vice-president, Dr. Ilan Berman examined whom the international community should support, in terms of resistance and regime change in Iran.  "There's ferment within Iran" and Iranian opposition message "resonates on the street because of this ferment."

"It's important for the United States to engage with people who call for freedom, for liberty, and who want to participate in a democratic process," Lee Smith, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute said.

SOURCE Organization of Iranian American Communities - U.S. (OIAC)

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