Politicians and national security experts from both sides of the Atlantic gathered in Paris on June 30 to discuss and share views about the popular uprising in Iran and the critical need for an alternative and effective Western policy towards the Iranian regime.
The nationwide uprisings triggered after the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran have disrupted the power dynamics between the Iranian people and the state, offering valuable insights into the aspirations of the majority of Iranians. This has led to a better understanding within the international community of their desires. However, in response to the perceived threat to its survival, the regime has initiated a multifaceted disinformation campaign to counter dissent at home and undermine international support to the movement.
The conference featured four distinct panels, each shedding light on different aspects of the truth surrounding the Iranian regime. The first panel, titled “Disinformation and its Impact on Western Policy on Iran,” brought together former FBI director Louis Freeh, former leader of the Canadian Conservative Party Candice Bergen, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield, British MP Steve McCabe, and former MEP Struan Stevenson.
Mr. Stevenson unveiled some of the regime’s disinformation tactics based on his own experience and stressed that 120 ex-world leaders have ignored the regime’s endeavors and signed a statement supporting the Iranian people’s right to rise up against the authorities and endorsing the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its key member organization, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
Candice Bergen, former Leader of the Canadian Conservative Party, shared her experience of being targeted with disinformation after attending a women’s conference in Brussels organized by the NCRI Women’s Committee. She emphasized the importance of rejecting lies, promoting truth and accountability, and standing up to disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting opponents of the regime.
Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI, highlighted the challenges faced in removing the NCRI and the MEK from the terrorist lists. He stressed the need to encourage opposition media and free speech to counter disinformation.
Ambassador Bloomfield shared his study that uncovered an entirely different narrative about the resistance and the regime, challenging the commonly believed misconceptions. He urged journalists to stop repeating information which is not fact checked and emphasized the importance of accurate reporting.
Steve McCabe underlined the regime’s fundamental reliance on falsehoods, propaganda, and covert activities. He spoke about the influence of disinformation, which extends to both left-wing and right-wing political spheres, citing instances of demonization in the media. He stressed the need to recognize the regime as a group of gangsters and called for the banning of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The conference highlighted the detrimental impact of disinformation on Western policy towards Iran. It served as a platform for experts to expose the false narratives propagated by the regime. The insights shared during the conference contribute to a more informed approach in countering disinformation and shaping effective Western policies that align with the aspirations of the Iranian people.
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Links:
120 Former World Leaders Call For Accountability In Iran
https://iran1988.org/signatories-of-former-world-leaders-2023-open-letter-on-iran/
Video recording of the panel discussions