He was speaking at a conference alongside Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance which included international delegates who were advocating for the release of the seven Ashraf hostages.
“I had the opportunity to visit hunger strikers in my life who were determined to go all the way and I never forget a face.
“Some of them were hospitalized in serious condition. And I can say that the authorities finally did something, not wanting to have deaths on their hands. And the authorities have shown that there is no hopeless situation.
“But what will make the Iraqi Government do something ? ” To my knowledge the seven hostages who are on hunger strike will not back down. What does it take to make the Iraqi Government change? Certainly not the language of complacency.”
“You know from experience, one cannot easily stop a moving train What will make the Iraqi Government do something is through the language of firmness.
“It is the language of the sanctions, it is the language of urgency. WIth this language we not only show respect for our friends at Liberty but more importantly the seven abducted hostages. Because every day that passes is one day too many.”