At a conference in the U.S. Senate on December 11, 2024, titled “Countering Tehran’s War and Terror: Advancing a Free, Non-Nuclear Republic,” senators from both sides of the aisle and military leaders discussed U.S. Iran policy following the fall of Assad’s dictatorship in Syria.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, addressed the panel via video link and spoke about the “Iranian Resistance’s Roadmap to Establish a Free and Democratic Society.”
Stressing that Khamenei has been the “Strategic Loser” of the war he started in the region, she called for a “policy change toward Iran,” adding, “The international community, particularly the United States, is expected to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its widespread domestic repression, terrorism, warmongering, and its nuclear weapons and missile programs. The international community must stand with the people of Iran and their fight for freedom.”
Mrs. Rajavi said: “For a free Iran, this resistance emphasizes the ballot box as the only criterion for legitimacy, the freedoms and equal rights of women, the autonomy of ethnic groups, equality between Shia and Sunni Muslims and followers of other religions, the separation of religion and state, defending peace in the Middle East, and a non-nuclear Iran.”
Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, who moderated this event, said: “No one could have predicted that it would occur against the backdrop of the toppling of the despised Assad dictatorship, an event that sets the stage for confronting the mullahs on their home turf.”
In this conference, senators from both parties expressed their support for a free and democratic Iran, stressing that after the fall of Assad in Syria, the mullahs’ regime is more fragile than ever.
Senator Thom Tillis referred to the Iranian regime’s illicit activities and its squandering of Iran’s national wealth, underlining that “The mullahs have destroyed a heritage of thousands of years of good, freedom-loving people.”
He also applauded Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s “decades of leadership, her vision for a peaceful transition… that actually results in empowering the Iranian people.”
“The events in Syria demonstrate the fundamental weakness at the core of Iran’s regional strategic policies,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who spoke next, said, adding that there’s an opportunity and “we must take advantage of it… We stand with you, and we will continue to partner with you in this fight for freedom.”
The next speaker, Senator Ted Cruz, expressed confidence that the Iranian regime will be overthrown, stating, “The Ayatollah will fall, the mullahs will fall, and we will see free and democratic elections in Iran.”
“Freedom is coming, and it can come with a speed that can astonish almost everyone. Change is coming, and it is coming very soon,” Senator Cruz added.
Senator Cory Booker described Iran’s regime as “the world’s leading exporter of terrorism and violence,” and stressed that “We must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It could destabilize the global order and create untold crises.”
“I will stand with the Iranian people against repression and injustice, because my cause and their cause are the same,” Senator Booker added.
General Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor to the U.S. Vice President, was also among the event’s speakers. He underlined the necessity to reimpose the “Maximum Pressure” campaign, adding that its absence has allowed Tehran to generate more revenue and fund terrorism.
General James Jones, former White House National Security Advisor, praised Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, calling it “Jeffersonian in principle.”
“I propose that in the near future, Iranian people be given a book… Part 1: Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan; Part 2: The New Constitution of Iran.”
Among other speakers at the event was Sam Brownback, former U.S. Senator, Governor of Kansas, and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Referring to Tehran’s race to obtain a nuclear bomb, Senator Brownback highlighted the need to counter the regime’s efforts, saying, “It’s not only now or never; it’s now or nuclear.”
“There will be no peace in the Middle East as long as this regime is in control. This is the moment to seize.”
Ambassador Mohammed A. Al-Hadhrami, Yemen’s U.S. representative, called for decisive action against Iran’s influence in Yemen, emphasizing the Houthis’ reliance on Iranian backing. He urged designating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, liberating Hudaydah, and targeting Houthi leaders to disrupt their operations. “Peace through strength works,” he said, expressing hope for freedom from tyranny for both Yemeni and Iranian people.
General Tod D. Wolters, former commander of U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, supported Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. “We must prepare to implement her Ten-Point Plan. It provides the architecture for immediate action once the regime falls, ensuring we can move forward swiftly and decisively,” he said.