On Thursday, February 20, the U.S. Representative office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, (NCRI) held a press briefing at its office in Washington D.C. over the Iranian regime’s sham parliamentary elections.
Soona Samsami, the U.S. representative of the NCRI, told reporters that the Iranian regime’s sham elections this year are very different than previous elections. “The 2020 Parliamentary elections are taking place after three major uprisings in Iran in January 2018, November 2019, and January 2020, which shook the regime to its foundations,” Samsami said. “The population has risen against the rampant corruption, economic mismanagement, and lack of freedoms.”
NOW: NCRI’s US Representative, Soon Samsami, delivers opening remarks for the NCRI-US press briefing on Iran’s parliamentary election. Livestream here: https://t.co/WSgar79X4E#Iran #BoycottIranShamElections pic.twitter.com/cZNXU2Z1Zs
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) February 20, 2020
“The purge by the Guardian Council reflected the “increasing vulnerability and deadly impasse of Khamenei. His tolerance threshold is at a new low. He is confronted with two choices, each of which is more dangerous than the other,” Ms. Samsami added.
The NCRI representative listed Khamenei choices as:
To close ranks even more while adopting a more aggressive posture toward the U.S. and carry out more internal purges and suppression.
To lessen the conflict with the U.S. and accept some of the 12 points announced by Secretary Mike Pompeo, which would involve showing flexibility and tolerance at home.
“Based on the regime’s internal deliberations, Khamenei has decided to close ranks and carry out a complete purge during the elections,” Ms. Samsami said.
NCRI-US Deputy Director Alireza Jafarzadeh provided three reasons for the purge of the rival faction by Khamenei. Including:1) Fear of uprisings – The regime is afraid that any split within the ruling elite would fuel more uprisings which, in turn, would deepen internal schisms, shearing off individuals who are not completely subservient and loyal to the regime.
Jafarzadeh: Why the Purge? The reason for this purge is the increasing vulnerability and deadly impasse of Khamenei. His tolerance threshold is at a new low. He is confronted with two choices, each of which is more dangerous than the other. #Iran #BoycottIranShamElections pic.twitter.com/x5usef8l7M
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) February 20, 2020
2) Fear of the opposition – The regime is alarmed that the opposition, and particularly the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), would exploit its internal schisms in the era of popular uprisings, thus facilitating its overthrow.
3) Fear of the U.S. – The regime is worried that any schism would aggravate its vulnerability in its stand-off with the U.S.
“Many candidates who have a good chance of getting into the parliament have spent years in the Iranian regime’s IRGC, the Qods Force, the Bassij, and the MOIS. This by itself further puts the regime and its parliament at odds with the Iranian people, who have already decided to boycott the elections, and are chanting “My vote is regime change.'” Said Mr. Jafarzadeh
Many candidates who have a high chance to get into the parliament have extensive background in serving in the Iranian regime’s IRGC, the Qods Force, the Bassij, and the MOIS. #Iran #BoycottIranShamElections pic.twitter.com/svD0wUrIk0
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) February 20, 2020
Reports obtained by the network of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI, Mujahedin-e Khalq or MEK) confirms the Iranian people’s general boycott of the Iranian regime’s parliamentary elections farce.