Lesser attention has been provided to a speech delivered by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday marking the beginning of the Iran-Iraq War back in 1980.
His remarks interestingly shed light into the Iranian regime’s current isolation, coming prior to a week that will place the spotlight on the Iranian regime at the United Nations General Assembly like never before.
Full of hot air
In short, Rouhani’s remarks were blueprinted for propaganda purposes, claiming to be the victor of the devastating Iran-Iraq War and even boasting the supported ability to overcome the current economy crisis engulfing the clerical regime.
“The end of this war will be sweeter than the end of the eight-year war; it will be shorter, our experience will increase and the enemy is weaker than ever before(!)… We will most certainly be victorious against [US President Donald] Trump,” he said.
“They say we must forgo our defensive weapons and missiles and, as they put it, stop interfering in the region… Not only will Iran refuse to put aside its defensive weapons and missiles, we will continuously increase our defensive powers,” Rouhani added.
It’s interesting how these remarks come from a figure claimed by some in the West to be a “moderate.”
Balancing act
Rouhani’s objective in these apparently very bold remarks were to balance the impact of a recent Washington Post article published in his name titled, “Iran is keeping its nuclear commitments — despite Trump.”
Rouhani signals a deep concern shared by many figures inside the Iranian regime inner circle. “Fed by disinformation and fake analysis from terrorist groups and Israel, the US administration is under the illusion that resorting to sanctions will lead to concessions from Iran…
“In our current talks with the remaining JCPOA participants, we have emphasized that safeguarding the long-term interests of the Iranian people is paramount to us. If these interests can still be secured despite the United States’ exit from the accord, we will remain in the deal; otherwise, we will pursue a different course of action.”
Four months after Trump exited the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) all signs indicate Tehran is desperately clinging to in anyway preserve the agreement with any party possible.
Europe’s actions talk
There was one particular concept shared in Rouhani’s remarks on Saturday and the WP article, claiming the United States is actually in isolation.
There was also a chorus of Iranian regime media outlets publishing criteria pushing the same agenda, believing the upcoming United Nations General Assembly and Security Council session–the latter to be chaired by Trump–will actually be in favor of Tehran and against Washington’s interests. Rouhani and Iranian state media are pressing the initiative that the Europeans will rise against America’s drive in the UNGA and oppose their exiting the JCPOA.
Even if the Europeans adopt such a position in favor of the JCPOA and advise the Americans to return to the deal and so forth… such mere remarks have been heard before while failing to resolve any of the Iranian regime’s dilemmas.
Despite the Iranian regime’s brouhaha, what resulted from the claimed “European JCPOA” and demands raised by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for the Europeans to provide “guarantees” was nothing but a humiliating €50 million support package. It is worth noting that only €18 million of this promised amount has been delivered after extensive discussions, with the Europeans even specifying how the Iranian regime is to spend this money.
On the ground
If we take a look at the facts, however, it is crystal clear that circumstances are quite the opposite. As we speak, numerous companies are ending their business and exiting Iran. The Dutch KLM airliner made its last flight to Iran on Sunday. France, the United Kingdom and Kuwait are refusing to name ambassadors to Iran.
In OPEC, the mere fact that the Iranian regime’s oil minister withholding from taking part in Sunday’s conference speaks for itself about Tehran’s growing isolation. An OPEC committee has decided to increase the oil production cap by 1 million barrels per day for OPEC and non-OPEC members to fill the void of Iran’s decreasing oil exports.
To add to Iran’s troubles are damning remarks heard from U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley that provide a prelude to the pounding awaiting the Iranian regime during this week’s UN General Assembly.
“…if there is one country that is the source of conflict and instability in the Middle East – one country that merits a quarterly debate in the Security Council – that country is not Israel. It’s Iran… It is difficult to name a conflict in the Middle East that does not have Iran’s fingerprints on it.”
Ambassador Haley went on to accuse Tehran of violating the sovereignty of Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
“In the case of Iraq, their goal is to exploit uncertainty, in order to create an Iranian-controlled corridor for weapons and fighters from Tehran to the Mediterranean… Iran could have stopped its proxy attacks. It chose not to. So the White House responded by putting Tehran firmly on notice,” she emphasized.
Broader picture
The Iranian regime’s isolation is, of course, nothing new. What is important, however, is the fact that the Iranian regime is facing an organized opposition movement, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), playing an important role in directing and galvanizing escalating protests across Iran.
As seen again on Saturday, this time in New York, the PMOI/MEK enjoy enormous support among a very organized Iranian Diaspora that is capable of holding key conferences in support of regime change in Iran.
President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani was one of the main speakers at the session, saying US sanctions targeting the Iranian regime are leading to economic pain for the mullahs and have the potential of resulting in a “successful revolution.”
Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an umbrella coalition of various Iranian opposition entities, including the PMOI/MEK, addressed the crowd through teleconference.
“It is an urgent imperative that the Security Council address the flagrant violations of human rights in Iran, especially the torture and massacre of political prisoners, and the regime’s export of terrorism and warmongering in the Middle East Region. It must adopt binding measures to compel the regime to halt its crimes,” Rajavi said. “Iran’s seat at the United Nations does not belong to the terrorist regime ruling it. That seat belongs to the Iranian people and Resistance.”
The regime’s regional and international isolation become all the more impacting and devastating for the regime when coupled with a significant opposition force presenting a viable opposition able to bring about successful regime change that renders freedom and democracy for the Iranian people.
With all this in mind, the Iranian regime is facing an extremely difficult week ahead.
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