by Shahriar Kia
Riyadh Daily, 16
August 2017 - The Iranian regime is attempting to secure a corridor
through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, providing a supply route for its numerous
terrorist proxies in the region.Iran’s clandestine nuclear and ballistic
missile drive, support for terrorism and domestic crackdown are all aimed at
maintaining the Tehran’s fascist mullahs in power and pursue their regional
policies.
This notorious
objective, in direct conflict with those of the regional and global coalitions
to fight terrorism and extremism, can be stopped. Eviction of Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and all its proxy forces from the Middle
East must complete the new US Congress sanctions. With President Donald Trump
signaling his approval, this first and foremost step should be taken with
hesitation following the sanctions.
The US House of
Representatives voted overwhelmingly to rally major new sanctions on Iran,
parallel to measures on North Korea and Russia. To impose additional sanctions
on Iran’s defense sector, the House voted 419-3. Coming after three weeks of
negotiations, this bill “tightens the screws on our most dangerous
adversaries,” explained House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Maryam
Rajavi , the President-elect of the National Council of
Resistance of Iran ( NCRI ), welcomed the adoption of a
bill by both chambers of the US Congress which imposes new sanctions on the
Iranian regime for violating human rights and pursuing ballistic missiles.
“Since several
years ago, the Iranian Resistance had urged the terrorist designation of
the IRGC, as it preserves the entirety of the
clerical regime and acts as its main apparatus for domestic suppression and
export of terrorism and fundamentalism,” she stressed. “However, the policy of
appeasing the mullahs’ religious dictatorship paved the way for the IRGC and
its proxies’ rampage in the entire region.”
A look back at
the pivotal role Iran played in the rise and flourishing of ISIS, parallel to
sectarian conflicts in the region, will help find the right tracks for security
in the region.
In 2008, a joint
campaign led by the U.S. military and Iraqi Sunnis rooted al-Qaeda in Iraq, the
precursor to ISIS. However, the Obama administration’s decision to pull back
and deliver the country to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a close ally
of the Iranian regime, eventually led to the unraveling of all previous
achievements.
Maliki dismantled
the Iraqi “Awakening Council” and gave Iran free pass to exert its full
influence on Iraq’s political and military apparatus.
In tandem, the
destruction and crimes committed by the IRGC and Bashar al-Assad regime against
the Syrian people provided the perfect breeding ground for sectarian strife and
allowed ISIS to occupy a wide swath of land straddling both countries.
The Iranian
regime became the main beneficiary of the rampage caused by ISIS and
subsequently used it as an excuse to expand its clout by forming and later
legalizing the IRGC-equivalent Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). This
entity has become notoriously renowned for its crimes against humanity, no less
horrendous than those committed by ISIS.
Iran’s highest
officials have time and again acknowledged funding and supporting the criminal
militia forces in Iraq and Syria, expressing their vested interest in occupying
neighboring countries through whatever means.
The Obama
administration’s hands-off approach vis-à-vis Iran’s regional ambitions
provided Tehran a far better opportunity to pursue its nefarious agendas under
the pretext of fighting ISIS. Speculations raised U.S. officials on possible
cooperation with Iran in the fight against terrorism only made matters worse.
Now, as ISIS is
losing influence and ground, Iran is attempting to fill the gap. Letting it have
its way would be a recipe for disaster, as proven in the past eight years.
Despite the
threats and taunts broadcasted regularly Iran’s state media, the regime is far
from capable or inclined to enter open warfare with any other state in the
region or across the globe.
Tehran’s proxies
are only as good as the funding and supplies the regime provides. Without IRGC support Iran’s proxies will be
hard-pressed to spread their mayhem in the region.
Sanctions alone,
however, will not be enough. Tehran has found ways to continue causing mischief
under the toughest sanctions regime.
The threats
rendered by Tehran will only end with regime change in Iran. This will initially
benefit the people of Iran, being the first victims of this regime’s criminal
ideology, and categorically reject its destructive foreign policy, both inside
the country and abroad.
One of the
greatest manifestations of the Iranian people’s desire for change was expressed
at the July 1st Free Iran gathering in Paris. Tens of thousands of Iranian
expats as well as politicians, activists and religious figures from across the
world attended the rally to express their solidarity and support for the cause
of freedom and democracy in Iran. The event had a clear message: regime change
in Iran is the only viable solution for both the people of Iran and the
region’s nations. There’s no need for another foreign conflict.
The people of Iran and their organized resistance have the will, power and means necessary to realize this change.
The people of Iran and their organized resistance have the will, power and means necessary to realize this change.
Saudi Prince 'Turki
Al Faisal' also addressed the massive gathering. “So, you have
coming together now a mighty coalition of forces, joining with the Resistance,
and that should give us hope that we can make that [regime] change,” he
stressed.
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