The following is the English translation of the interview published today:
NCRI- In an interview with the French daily, East Republican (L'Est Républicain), Mrs. Mrayam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran condemned the European Unions policy of appeasement toward mullahs' regime and called for the delisting of the People's Mojahedin Orgnanization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The following is the English translation of the interview published today:
"Mullahs want the atomic bomb"
Maryam Rajavi, the exiled opposition, denounces the European Union's policy of appeasement toward the Iranian regime.
She is the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), a real parliament in exile that includes the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Maryam Rajavi leads the main Iranian opposition movement to the mullahs' regime from France where she found refuge in the early 80's,
She responds to our questions about the crisis and parliamentary elections in Iran. The second round will take place Friday.
Q: Dismissal of two ministers (Economy and Interior), election's participation rate lower than expected…
Maryam Rajavi: Resistance's networks inside Iran, has monitored 25,000 out of the total of 45,000 polling stations in the country. Ninety five percent of the voters did not go to the ballot box despite the fact that all factions of the regime had invited to vote.
Q: The regime has not yet given the official figures, but it claims a rate of 35 percent…
Maryam Rajavi: This is all a fabrication. Even the European Union has acknowledged that this election was neither free nor fair.
Q: Therefore what do the 209 elected deputies represent?
Maryam Rajavi: An electoral farce. Seventy percent of them are supporters of Ahmadinejad, who intends to use the parliament as a lever to obtain the atomic bomb and unify the ranks around the Supreme Leader in the face of international challenges.
Q: Tehran claims that its nuclear program is exclusively civil…
Maryam Rajavi: In late February, we revealed the existence of main research center for the bomb in Tehran, and another center for the manufacture of nuclear warheads. The mullahs want the bomb to ensure the survival of the regime in the region (Editor's note: In 2002, the Iranian Resistance had revealed Tehran's nuclear program).
Q: When do you believe Iran could become a nuclear power?
Maryam Rajavi: The U.S. intelligence services estimate 2013-2015, but that is what the regime wants every one to believe. I think it could get there much faster. It depends on its relations with the West. In this sense, the policy of appeasement led by the European Union (EU) over the years has proven to be a failure.
Q: You intend to establish the democratic alternative in Iran, but the PMOI remains classified as terrorist …
Maryam Rajavi: Unfortunately, the EU's persistence on the blacklisting despite the judgment of the court of First Instance of the European Communities in Luxembourg is a pledge to the religious dictatorship because the Iranian resistance remains a force capable of bringing a change in Iran.
Q: Economic interests are not, however, the assurance not to overthrow the regime?
Maryam Rajavi: Of course, this can be seen when Ahmadinejad says that the price of oil is not high enough (Editor's note: Iran is the fourth largest exporter of oil). This is a blackmail to push back the international community.
Q: What do you expect from the French presidency of the EU from 1 July?
Maryam Rajavi: There are signs that France, like others, has adopted a firmer policy, particularly on the nuclear issue. If it takes the initiative to support democratic change in Iran by recognizing the NCRI, then it may help breaking the current deadlock.
Q: The Iranian president habit is to provoke. Does that not give you credit?
Maryam Rajavi: Whenever he speaks, it demonstrates the accuracy of the analysis of the Resistance.
Interviewed by Sebastian MICHAUX