Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

Iran:Successful Completion of the Resettlement of Camp Liberty residents from Iraq to Europe

This afternoon, September 9, 2016, the final group of Camp Liberty residents (more than 280) departed Baghdad, Iraq, for Albania. This final round of departures marks the successful conclusion to the process of relocating members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) outside of Iraq despite the Iranian regime’s conspiracies, obstruction and threats, which continued until the very last day.

During the four-and-a-half-year-long resettlement process, the residents of Liberty were relocated to European countries, including Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Spain. Close to 2,000 residents left Iraq since the beginning of 2016.

In this process, the religious dictatorship ruling Iran provided red notices to Interpol and used fake arrest warrants issued by the Iraqi Judiciary in a bid to prevent the departure of 1,000 PMOI members, and arrest officials and other well-known figures.

Exploiting the post-invasion atmosphere in Iraq, the ruling clerical regime did its utmost to destroy the PMOI/MEK. Three massacres at Camp Ashraf, five missile attacks on Camp Liberty, two cases of abduction of residents, and the imposition of a full-fledged eight-year siege, which left 177 residents dead, constituted parts of this inhumane, albeit futile, plan.

Iran:Maryam Rajavi calls on the U.S. and the UN to guarantee Camp Liberty’s security until all residents depart Iraq

Maryam Rajavi

Missile attack on Camp Liberty

Following tonight’s missile barrage on Camp Liberty by militias affiliated with the terrorist Quds Force, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, hailed the heroic perseverance of the residents of Camp Liberty and wished a quick recovery for those wounded in the criminal attack.

She said that the missile attack on Camp Liberty, especially following an inhumane eight-day siege, blocking fuel, food and medicine from entering the camp, demonstrated that the religious dictatorship ruling Iran is terrified of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the Iranian Resistance, which it views as an existential threat.

For this reason, Mrs. Rajavi noted, the mullahs’ regime opposes any solution for Camp Liberty residents that would ensure their safety and security and tries to obstruct it. The only acceptable options, as far as the regime is concerned, are to either compel Camp Liberty residents to surrender and abandon their struggle or to physically eliminate them.

She called on the UN Security Council, the European Union and their member states to decisively condemn the criminal missile attack on Camp Liberty. Mrs. Rajavi said now that no doubt remains as to the Iranian regime’s intentions to cause more bloodshed at Camp Liberty, there is added urgency for the United States and the United Nations to take action to guarantee and provide safety and security for the residents of Camp Liberty until such time when all of them have departed Iraq. She emphasized that this would be consistent with the repeated and written guarantees the U.S. and the UN have given regarding the safety and security of Camp Liberty residents.

More than 50 missiles rained down at Camp Liberty, several of which landed outside the camp. The assault caused major destruction and fire in the camp, with missile craters seven feet wide and five feet deep. Based on reports received until midnight, 40 resident had been injured in the attack.

NCRI calls on Italian PM to cancel trip to Iran - The National

NCRI calls on Italian PM to cancel trip to Iran - The National

The Iranian Resistance has called on Italy's prime minister to cancel a visit to Iran next week amid fears it will be used by Tehran to legitimize human rights violations in the country, Scotland's The National reported on Friday.

"Iran has an economy worth $400 billion (£283.8bn) and European countries are keen to re-establish trade ties," the paper wrote.

"However, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said more than 2,300 people had been executed there during [Hassan] Rouhani’s regime – according to a UN special rapporteur, the highest figure over the past 25 years."

"The NCRI said the Tehran regime 'manipulates such visits against the highest interests of the people of Iran and against peace and tranquillity in the region'."

Shahin Gobadi of the NCRI told The National: “The Iranian regime is very egregious and only feeds Tehran’s propaganda. It has no interest in improving Iran’s conduct at home or abroad."

“Actions talk louder than words and under Rouhani the human rights situation is becoming much worse. Just yesterday a report by Amnesty International put Iran far ahead of any other country in terms of executions in 2015.”

“Look at Iran’s conduct regarding missile tests, or for sending weapons abroad. In recent weeks three ships containing Iranian weapons destined for Yemen’s Houthis were intercepted by the French, Australian and American naval forces in international waters.”

Mr. Gobadi said it was unlikely that Italy would condemn human rights issues in a meeting with Rouhani, in which case the premier’s visit should be called off, the report said. If it went ahead as planned, it would send a message to Iranians that such behaviour was acceptable.

Iran:Key U.S. Senator angry over UN inaction on Iran regime missile tests

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker

The United Nations Security Council’s reluctance to sanction Iran's regime over its ballistic missile program is drawing an angry response from a key member of the United States Congress, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

Reuters reported Wednesday that UN Security Council diplomats don’t think the case for sanctions is very strong because under the relevant UN resolution Iran's regime is only “called upon” to not conduct ballistic missile tests that could deliver a nuclear weapon – it is not forbidden from doing so.

That “directly contradicts assurances made by the administration,” U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said in a statement Wednesday. “As many of us feared, now it appears Iran can defy those restrictions with impunity, fearing no pushback from the U.N. Security Council.”

Sen. Corker, like all Senate Republicans, opposed the Iran nuclear pact, which the U.N. Security Council approved in July by adopting U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which also called on Iran's regime not to launch nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Since the deal was struck, Obama administration officials have insisted that the only sanctions that would be rolled back under the deal are those pertaining to the Iranian regime’s nuclear activity — all others would remain in place.

Iran regime purchases $8 billion worth of weapons from Russia in violation of UN resolutions

Iran regime purchases $8 billion worth of weapons from Russia in violation of UN resolutions

The Iranian regime’s defense minister who had been involved in hostage taking and terrorism is visiting Moscow for talks about closer military cooperation.

Officials in Iran announced Monday that the regime in Tehran would spend another $8 billion on the purchase of Russian arms.

The Iranian regime has already handed Moscow a shopping list and the visit by Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan should speed up a number of key arms deals, RT reported.

"Iran would like to buy Russia's latest S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system, developed by Almaz-Antey. And they make no secret of it. On the eve of his visit to Moscow Dehghan openly said to Iranian media they want to purchase the S-400s," the report said quoting sources of the business daily Kommersant.

Days after a preliminary nuclear agreement between the Iranian regime and six world powers, the United Nations adopted a resolution on July 20 forbidding Iran’s regime from purchasing conventional arms for the next five years.

U.S. House Republicans want panel to investigate Iran deal - The Hill

capitol_hill

Some two dozen Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives want to create a Congressional committee to provide oversight of the Iran nuclear deal, The Hill reported on Thursday.

Rep. Todd Young (R-Ind.) has introduced legislation to create the Select Committee on Oversight of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after lawmakers were unable to block the agreement earlier this year despite opposition from majorities in both chambers.

"We cannot lose sight of the threat posed by a nuclear Iran, which is why we need an oversight body in the House that can mimic this role and sound the alarm when Iran cheats the deal," Young, who is running to succeed retiring Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.), said in a statement.

The committee would be able to investigate compliance of the nuclear deal and give an annual report that would include any enrichment activities, uranium stockpile levels, the oversight of the deal by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and sanctions compliance, The Hill reported.

The move comes as the deal heads toward implementation day, when sanctions against Iran's regime will be lifted. While U.S. officials have suggested that implementation day likely won't occur until mid-2016, the Iranian regime's officials have suggested it could happen in January.

Young added that the House committee, which would be able to subpoena administration officials, would help keep members informed and prepare lawmakers with potential next steps if Tehran violates the agreement.

The House committee would also look into research and development of the Iranian regime's missile program and any attempts by Tehran to buy conventional weapons.

Recent ballistic missile tests by Iran's regime have drawn frustration from lawmakers in both parties. The administration is expected to announce new sanctions against companies and individuals involved in missile development.