PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Senior former U.S. and European officials will gather with Iranian expatriates, community leaders and supporters from across the globe in Villepinte – Paris on Saturday, June 13th. The event expected to attract some 100,000 people will mark the world’s largest gathering of supporters of freedom and democracy for Iran.
Approximately 1,000 political figures, activists, and religious leaders are expected to participate in the event, representing over 100 countries, five continents, and a range of socio-political backgrounds.
“This is a critical time for freedom in Iran. Now more than ever, it is essential for President Obama and Secretary Kerry to keep the pressure on the Iranian Government,” said Rudolph W. Giuliani, former New York City Mayor and Presidential Candidate. “At the core of all these problems is the regime in Iran. It should be changed, it must be changed, it has to be changed.”
The event will feature remarks from internationally-recognized opinion leaders on the ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program just two weeks before the June 30th deadline for a final agreement and on the growing crises in the Middle East, highlighted by the rise of ISIS and the Iranian regime’s meddling in Yemen.
“I want everyone who speaks up for freedom in Iran to tell President Obama that we need to keep America’s word,” said Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, in referring to the need to protect the Iranian dissidents.
The event is a reflection of resistance movement commitments to a democratic, secular and non-nuclear republic in Iran.
“It is a great honor for me to participate with bipartisan leaders around the world calling for freedom in Iran,” said Bill Richardson, former Ambassador to the U.N., U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Governor of New Mexico. “Iranians around the world want democracy and human rights in Iran, and now is the time to make sure we deliver on it.”
Speakers at the event will set out a vision for Iran’s future and urge the international community to ensure that any agreement over Iran’s nuclear program would effectively prevent the Tehran regime from having the capacity to produce nuclear weapons.
“Given Iran's aggressiveness and the fanaticism of its leaders, I don't think we can do a reasonable deal with them. They'll cheat," said James Woolsey, former Clinton Director of Central Intelligence. “We need a political change in Iran. We should stop the talks and clamp down further sanctions. We cannot accommodate an Iranian government that is committed to lying to us.”
Additional speakers at this year’s summit will include:
- Gen. Hugh Shelton, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Louis Freeh, former FBI Director
- Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania and first U.S. Homeland Security Secretary
- Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
- Gen. George Casey, former U.S. Army Chief of Staff
- Michael Mukasey, former U.S. Attorney General
- Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush
- John Bolton, former Ambassador to the U.N.
The event will be live streamed at a number of websites including: http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/. Follow the event live on Twitter @iran_policy @4FreedominIran #IranFreedom #MaryamRajaviSpeaks.