Dennis Hastert, Callista and Newt Gingrich, and Rudy Giuliani, at the Iranian resistance annual meeting on June 22, 2013.

:: The Iranian regime bears historic responsibility for the instability and crisis in the region today and Tehran has been responsible for a series of deadly terrorist attacks against the United States, a bipartisan group of former American officials has said. The 30-member delegation also expressed solidarity with thousands of Iranians gathered in Paris on July 1, 2017 for the annual rally of the Iranian opposition.

“The regime has preserved its grip on power for 38 years due to widespread repression and blatant disregard for human rights at home and the export of extremism and terrorism abroad,” said a statement. As per the statement, the Iran-fueled sectarian division of Iraq laid the foundation for the creation of ISIS.

“Direct Iranian armed intervention in Syria bears the prime responsibility for blocking the UN’s political transition process that might have halted the carnage in Syria led by Iran’s ally Bashar al Assad,” it said adding that Iran today commands and funds upwards of 150,000 IRGC, Shiite militia and mercenary armed fighters in Iraq and Syria, preventing both countries from achieving stability under legitimate constitutional government that respects the rights of all citizens.

The delegation also said that they agree with the apparent new US policy of ending the previous United States overture toward the Iranian regime while holding Iran to its nuclear commitments, and believe an approach based on the historic experience and realities in the region is essential. “As part of a new approach every effort must be made to end the Iranian regime’s meddling in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and other countries of the region,” it added.

We believe that change is within reach, not only because the regime is becoming engulfed in crisis, but also because there is a large and growing movement organizing for positive change. A viable organization capable of ending the nightmare of religious dictatorship by establishing freedom and democracy, tolerance, and gender equality has steadily gained visibility, popular support and international recognition, said the statement.

Signatories to the statement include Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House, John Bolton, Former UN Ambassador, Rudy Giuliani, Former NYC Mayor, General George Casey, Former US Army Chief of Staff and Commander of Multi-National Forces in Iraq, and Joseph I. Lieberman – Former Connecticut Senator.

President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK) leader, Maryam Radjavi, during a gathering in Saint-Denis, near Paris on August 3, 2013.