Memorandum submitted by the UK Representative
Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
INTRODUCTION
This summary is a short summary dealing with
the Iranian regime and is divided into six sections. The sections
include: (i) history and structure, (ii) human rights record,
(iii) terrorism, (iv) weapons of mass destruction, (v) interference
in Iraq, and (vi) is the Iranian regime capable of change.
THE IRANIAN
REGIME
1. History and Structure
As the Committee will no doubt be aware in 1979
the Iranian people demanded change. They spilled onto the streets
of Iran demanding freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.
However, through (i) lies, deceit and manipulation of the religious
sentiments of the people (ii) as a result of the vacuum of opposition
groups left through the arrest, torture and execution of members
of such groups by the SAVAK secret police of the Shah, and (iii)
the lack of the Iranian people's awareness of the true fundamentalist
nature of the mullahs, brought about by the Shah's dictatorship,
the mullahs were able to usurp power in Iran. They began by promising
people freedoms, with Ayatollah Khomeini stating that he did not
wish to be in power and instead would soon return to the mosques
in order to continue with his religious teachings, leaving the
country to be governed by the people. Pretty soon it became clear
to the Iranian people that this was not the case. The mullahs
began to violently crack down on opposition groups using their
vigilantes and club wielders from Ansar-e-Hezbollah, they arrested
and/or expelled all liberal minded political figures including
the then President, they failed to allow the people to elect an
assembly to draw up the constitution and failed to give the people
free elections.
Instead they set up a theory of government called
"velayat-e-faqih", literally meaning the guardianship
of the religious jurist. The essence of the theory, developed
and applied by Khomeini, is that one man with a thorough knowledge
of Islamic law is designated as vali-e-faqi, heir to the prophet
Muhammad and the Imams (Leaders). The vali wields absolute authority
and sovereignty over the affairs of the entire Muslim nation.
At the top of the Iranian regime's power structure is the Supreme
Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The immense powers bestowed on the vali-e-faqih
were very well described by Pierre Salinger, the Press Secretary
to the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy. On 16 March 2000,
in The Georgetowner publication Mr Salinger stated[18]
"All along, we have seemed to underestimate
the hard hold of the radical clerics on the actual power structure
in that country. . . Article 110 of that constitution defines
the powers and duties of Khomeini's successor Ali Khamenei—the
supreme guide—to consist of the following:
(6)
Appointments, removals and acceptance of resignations
of:
all theologian members of the Guardians Council;
the highest judicial authority of the land;
the director of the Islamic Republic's radio and
television;
the joint chief of staff of the armed forces;
Commander of the Revolutionary Guards.
Therefore, it is clear that in practice the
supreme leader dictates all matters of foreign and domestic security
and the so-called elections held by the regime are recognised
by Iranians as sham elections. The fact is that under articles
25, 27 and 29 of the Iranian Laws of Elections, the candidates
for election to the Majlis have to go through various vetting
processes (including by the local Basiji forces, the Revolutionary
Guard, the judiciary and the Guardians Council) and express their
loyalty in mind and heart to the supreme leader. There are two
relevant February 2000 articles written in The Washington Post[19]and
The Wall Street Journal Europe[20]
2. Human Rights Record
The violation of human rights in Iran is systematic,
institutionalised, widespread and legalised in the Penal Code
of Iran ("the Code"). Such violations can be described
as involving the removal of all forms of freedom of opinion and
expression, arbitrary arrests, incarceration of prisoners of conscience,
unfair trials of political prisoners, torture and other forms
of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, and executions (often
imposed and swiftly carried out following summary trials).
Such violations of human rights are undeniable,
with the Iranian regime having been condemned 50 times in resolutions
of the UN General Assembly/UN Commission on Human Rights, the
most recent of which was on 18 November 2003. Since 1979 the Iranian
regime has executed over 120,000 Iranians, the vast majority of
whom were members and sympathisers of the People's Mojahedin Organisation
of Iran ("the PMOI"), 30,000 of whom were executed in
a few months period at the end of 1988—no less than a crime
against humanity. On 4 February 2001 The Sunday Times reported
Ayatollah Montazeri as providing details of the "fatwa"
declared by Ayatollah Khomeini stating that those prisoners in
Iranian prisons who remained steadfast in their support for the
PMOI had no right to life and must be immediately executed. Further
details of this atrocity are contained in a book published by
the NCRI entitled "A Crime Against Humanity" and photographs
and personal details of thousands of the victims have been published
by the PMOI.
The human rights situation in Iran has only
worsened, with the level of oppression escalating as pressure
has mounted on the regime from political and social protests in
Iran. In May 2003, as part of a wave of executions, an Iranian
was beheaded in public and three others hanged. This was reported
by the AFP news agency on 13 May 2003. Various prominent human
rights organisations have stated that the human rights situation
in Iran has seen a marked deterioration during the course of this
year, with the escalating use of arbitrary arrests, torture and
other forms of cruel and inhumane treatments and executions. The
arrest of over 4,000 students in the last three weeks of June
whilst taking part in peaceful demonstrations in Tehran and the
brutal beating to death of the Canadian-Iranian journalist, Zahra
Kazemi, represented just the tip of the iceberg.
As the Committee will be aware, in 2002, under
pressure from the EU as part of negotiations on an EU-Iran trade
deal, the Iranian regime declared a "moratorium" on
the particularly gruesome execution by stoning. However, this
transpired to be yet a further piece of false propaganda by the
Iranian regime, with The Times reporting on 12 November
2003 that four Iranian men had been sentenced to death by stoning.
The main democratic opposition to the Iranian
regime, the PMOI, has played a major role in the exposure of the
Iranian regime's atrocious human rights record. By way of example,
in 1984 the PMOI published "At War With Humanity", a
report of the human rights record of the Iranian regime. Further,
in March 2000 the PMOI secretly smuggled out of Iran a video depicting
the horrific details of the barbaric punishments meted out in
Iranian jails, with prisoner's eyes being gouged out, others having
fingers chopped off and four men being stoned to death. The PMOI
placed this tape at the disposal of the NCRI, a political coalition
in which the PMOI is a member, to be brought to the attention
of the world. A copy of a Sunday Times article dated 12
March 2000, in relation to this video is enclosed[21]
3. Terrorism
The Iranian regime is recognised as "the
most active state sponsor of international terrorism" (US
State Department Annual Report on Trends in Terrorism of 2001).
Over the past two decades, it has committed over 450 acts of terrorism
worldwide, including bombings, hijackings, assassinations of Iranian
dissidents and abduction of Western nationals. It also provides
the finance, logistical support and diplomatic cover for those
engaged in the carrying out of such terrorist attacks, often allowing
such terrorists to use their embassies for cover.
In September of this year a Federal Judge in the
US ruled that the Iranian regime was responsible for the 1983
bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. It
was found to have provided Hezbollah with the funding, weapons
and training to carry out this attack. The Judge described how
this bombing was part of the Iranian regime's campaign to remove
the US presence in Lebanon. This bombing was followed six months
later with the suicide bombing of a US marine barracks in Beirut
that killed 241 US marines.
The Iranian regime's other major terrorist attacks
include the bombing of the Jewish Community Centre in Buenos Aires
in 1994, killing over 85 civilians and injuring a further 200.
When, following the issuing of arrest warrants by an Argentinean
Judge, the then Iranian Ambassador to Argentina was arrested in
Britain earlier this year, the Iranian regime responded by shooting
at the British embassy in Tehran on no less than three occasions.
This highlights the policy of intimidation and blackmail that
has become the cornerstone of the mullahs' foreign policy in pursuit
of their objectives.
On 20 May 2003, in an article in The Wall
Street Journal[22]the
former FBI Director Louis Freeh described how FBI investigations
into the huge truck bomb at Khobar Towers in Dharhran, Saudi Arabia
killing 19 US airmen, revealed that the attack was planned, funded
and co-ordinated by Iran's security services, the IRGC and the
MOIS. More recently the Iranian regime has been harbouring al
Qaeda operatives believed to have played a key role in the 12
May 2003 suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia. Further, on 17 November
2003 The Press Association reported[23]that
one of the suicide bombers involved in the attacks on the two
synagogues in Istanbul resulting in 24 deaths, travelled to Iran
several times for bomb training. Iran also continues to oppose
and undermine the Middle East peace process through its sponsorship
of terrorism.
4. Weapons of Mass Destruction
Through its internal sources and nationwide
network in Iran, the PMOI has been able to provide vital detailed
information to the international community regarding the clandestine
efforts by the Iranian regime to develop and stockpile various
forms of weapons of mass destruction, including biological and
nuclear weapons. Since August 2002, the NCRI has been revealing
the locations of gas centrifuge enrichment plants and heavy water
plants in Iran, the details of which were placed at its disposal
by the PMOI. Further, during the course of this year, the IAEA
has found weapons grade uranium at two of the sites disclosed
by the NCRI, one site in Natanz and the Kalay-e Electric company
west of Tehran. A copy of some of the information and documentation
disclosed by the NCRI at various press conferences is enclosed[24]
As a result of the disclosures by the NCRI and
the pressure placed upon the Iranian regime, it was recently forced
to admit that it had been systematically covering up its nuclear
programme for the past two decades. In a 30-page report on 10
November 2003, the IAEA revealed that Iran had committed nine
separate breaches of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations
by extracting weapons-grade plutonium in experiments with uranium,
and recently was building a secret laser uranium enrichment facility,
as well as a huge centrifuge enrichment complex. A copy of three
relevant articles dated 12 November 2003 is enclosed[25]
However, regrettably rather than taking a tough
approach towards Iran by referring it to the UN Security Council,
as they were obliged to do, on 21 October 2003 the Foreign Ministers
of Britain, France and Germany decided to travel to Iran to obtain
from the Iranian regime their agreement to (i) suspend its uranium
enrichment programme, and (ii) to sign the additional protocol
to the NPT, allowing unrestricted inspection of nuclear activities.
The result of this weak approach taken by the
EU towards the Iranian regime has been the emboldening the regime
to continue with its policy of concealment and deceit. Not more
than a few hours after the above commitments were made, president
Khatami had announced that, "Iran will never give up the
right to enriched uranium." As most security commentators
stated at the time, Iran has not complied with the commitments
that it made and has instead succeeded in its attempt to buy more
time to continue with its nuclear activities and to place a wedge
between the EU, the IAEA and the USA. One month after making the
above commitments and the deadline for signing the additional
protocol to the NPT set by the IAEA (ie 31 October) the additional
protocol remains unsigned by the Iranian regime and has in fact
been postponed until February 2004. Further, on 29 November 2003
(please see enclosed Reuters article[26]),
Hasan Rowhani, head of the powerful Supreme National Security
Council of Iran stated, "Our decision to suspend uranium
enrichment is voluntary and temporary. Uranium enrichment is Iran's
natural right and (Iran) will reserve this right for itself. .
.There has been and will be no question of a permanent suspension
or halt at all. . .we want to control the whole fuel cycle."
A reason for the weak approach taken by the EU in relation to
this matter becomes clear when one considers Hasan Rowhani's statement
that Iran would punish countries that backed US efforts to take
Iran's nuclear record to the United Nations Security Council by
barring them from receiving lucrative contracts for huge energy
and development projects in Iran.
The Iranian regime's claim that its nuclear
activities are for civil purposes is yet a further astonishing
lie. The fact is that Iran has some of the richest oil and gas
reserves in the world and therefore has no present need for nuclear
energy (please see The Sunday Telegraph article[27]).
The Iranian people are all too aware that the mullahs have never
been interested in their most basic needs and they therefore certainly
are not concerned about the people's energy needs. Over the past
two decades the mullahs have devastated a nation with a long and
proud history. Before the mullahs came to power one US Dollar
cost 7.5 Tomans and now it costs between 750 and 1,100 Tomans,
and yet the people's income has certainly not increased 100 fold.
The youth of Iran face 40% unemployment and have been forced to
turn to prostitution and selling their body organs in order to
make ends meet. This is also the same regime that prolonged a
war with Iraq for eight years costing, according to Rafsanjani,
US $1,000 billion.
When an Islamic fundamentalist regime is prepared
to fire shots at the Iranian embassy in Tehran three times in
order to blackmail Britain into releasing its former Ambassador
accused of terrorism, takes hostages, seizes embassies, is the
most active state sponsor of international terrorism and threatens
democracy and stability in the Middle East, the EU must be concerned
at what this same regime would do if it had nuclear weapons. The
EU should also appreciate the value of the PMOI and NCRI, and
their efforts in support of peace and stability.
5. Interference in Iraq
In the same way that the Iranian regime pursued
a campaign of bombing to remove the US from Lebanon during the
early 1980s, they are now pursuing a similar approach in Iraq
in order to remove the Coalition. The ultimate aim of the Iranian
regime is to take control of Iraq by exporting its Islamic fundamentalism
and Islamic revolution to it. Ayatollah Khomeini institutionalised
the "export of revolution" and creation of an Islamic
rule, not only as an idea but as a specific goal and program within
various parts of his constitution. Part of the foreword to the
regime's constitution reads, "The Army of the Islamic Republic
and the Revolutionary Guards Corps . . . carry not only the duty
of protecting the borders but also ideological duty (ie Jihad
for God and struggle to spread the rule of God's law in the world)".
The views of the regime with regard to Iraq
can be gauged from the statement of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the
leader of Iran's powerful Guardian Council on 2 May 2003, when
he stated, "The Iraqi people have reached the conclusion
that they have no option but to launch an uprising and resort
to martyrdom operations to expel the United States from Iraq .
. . I urge Iraqis to make nonstop efforts to expel the enemy from
Iraq's unsoiled land." Please see the enclosed Los Angeles
Times article dated 3 May 2003[28]
The Head of the Coalition Provisional Authority,
Paul Bremer, has been stating for months that Iran is meddling
in the internal affairs of Iraq. In an interview with The Daily
Telegraph on 19 September 2003[29]
Mr Bremer stated, "Iranian agents are working to destabilise
the reconstruction process." He stated that their activities
included, "support for various people, some of whom have
taken violent action against both Iraqis and the Coalition."
The PMOI have provided vast amounts of information
and intelligence to Coalition forces in relation to the activities
of the Iranian regime's Revolutionary Guard in Iraq. On 28 September
2003, The Daily Telegraph reported that Iran had dispatched
hundreds of agents posing as pilgrims and traders to Iraq to foment
unrest in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, as well as allowing
extremist fighters from Ansar al-Islam to cross back into Iraq
from Iran to join the anti-American resistance[30]
Further, in an interview with The Guardian
on 23 October 2003[31]Sir
Jeremy Greenstock stated that he had warned the Iranian regime
to stop meddling in the reconstruction of Iraq. He stated, "There
are elements in the Badr corps [an Iranian backed militia] who
are malign and interested in using violence against the Coalition
. . . We are making it very clear to Iran that that is unacceptable,
that will be further marks against them (for) stirring it up in
Iraq and we will deal with the violence on the ground accordingly
. . ."
As the Committee will be aware, after the collapse
of the Soviet Union, Islamic fundamentalism emerged as the new
global threat. Under the guise of Islam the mullahs in Iran shaped
the most horrifying terrorist network to pursue a Jihad or holy
struggle against the West. Therefore, one should be in no doubt
that the Iranian regime is behind more than 90% of terrorist operations
carried out around the world in the name of Islam. It is the only
so-called "Islamic Republic" in the region and believes
itself to be the guardian of the Islamic faith, which other Muslims
must follow.
6. Is the Iranian Regime Capable of Change?
The answer to this question is most likely to
be a resounding "no". Not only is the regime incapable
of change, but the fact is that it has no desire to change. For
the regime to grant the people of Iran the change that they demand
is for the regime to grant its own dissolution. The cry of the
Iranian people and in particular the students in the extensive
recent public unrest are for "Democracy and Freedom"
and "Death to Khamenei—Khatami resign". As was
shown in section 1 above, democracy and freedom cannot exist under
the system of velayat-e-faqih.
In an article written by Arnold Beichman, a
Hoover Institution Research fellow and a columnist for The
Washington Times, on 28 May 2003[32]he
describes what he calls the "End of the Iran Con-Game".
"The Great Con-Game" as he describes it began with the
election of Mohammad Khatami as president of Iran in 1997 and
the hatching of the myth of "moderates" within the mullahs
who would bring about change. It has now become clear that the
myth of "moderates" was nothing but a desperate ploy
by the mullahs to stay in power. This was proved by statements
made by president Khatami in August of this year. In an article
in The Guardian on 13 August 2003[33]Khatami
was reported as acknowledging that his attempts to introduce democratic
reform have largely failed and that his promises made to the people
had not been fulfilled. In these circumstances, the level of threat
to the regime has intensified, as the Iranian people are demanding
an entire change of regime. This has been recognised by all officials
of the Iranian regime during the past two years with Khatami stating
on 1 May 2002, "Our country is on the verge of chaos"
and mullah Ibrahim Amini, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of Experts
stating on 15 May 2002, "I swear to god that the country
is on the verge of a social explosion and people are very upset
and dismayed by the state of affairs. If public discontent spreads
with the same trend, which I fear is going to happen, the country
and our regime will be in peril."
It should also never be forgotten that Khatami
is a mullah. From the outset he was a close adviser to Khomeini
and was the Minister of Guidance between 1982 and 1992. Further,
he is part of the ruling system and therefore has no desire change
it. To the contrary, he supports the system of velayat-e-faqih
and has pledged his allegiance to the supreme leader.
UK Representative Office of the National Council
of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
December 2003
18 The Georgetowner, 16 March 2000, "Changes
Ahead in Iran?". Back
19
The Washington Post, 29 February 2000, "Iran election
short of epochal change". Back
20
The Wall Street Journal Europe, 22 February 2000, "Let's
Not Throw the Mullahs a Lifeline". Back
21
Not printed. The Sunday Times, 12 March 2000, "Smuggled
film exposes Iran's barbaric justice". Back
22
The Wall Street Journal, 20 May 2003, "American Justice
for Our Khobar Heroes". Back
23
The Press Association, 17 November 2003, "Synagogue
Suicide Bomber Trained in Iran". Back
24
Not printed. Back
25
Not printed. The Daily Telegraph, 12 November 2003, "`18
years of lies' from Iran over its nuclear plans"; The
Guardian, 12 November 2003, "Tehran accused of 18-year
cover-up"; The Times, 12 November 2003, "Iran
`secretly produced plutonium'". Back
26
Not printed. Reuters, 29 November 2003, "Iran says
won't shelve Uranium enrichment forever". Back
27
The Sunday Telegraph, 7 September 2003, "They're out
of excuses, we're out of time". Back
28
Not printed. The Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2003, "Iranian
Cleric Urges Iraqis to Expel U.S.". Back
29
The Daily Telegraph, 19 September 2003, "US troops
killed as Bremner accuses Iran". Back
30
The Daily Telegraph, 28 September 2003, "Iranian agents
flood into Iraq posing as pilgrims and traders". Back
31
The Guardian, 23 October 2003, "Blair Envoy Warns
Iran on `Meddling'". Back
32
The Washington Times, 28 May 2003, "End of the Iran
con-game?". Back
33
The Guardian, 13 August 2003, "Iran's leader admits
reforms have stalled". Back
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