STOP DEALING WITH THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN!
At the time when protests are spreading across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini there is news of discussion between Iran and the USA to release Iran’s assets frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of Iranian-American dual citizens in Iran.
Although the American government has denied this claim, observing the positions of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the related developments raises concerns that such an event has happened or is about to happen. We hope that the American government's claim in this regard is true.
Considering the brutal violence of the Iranian regime against the protesters, killing more than a hundred people, imprisoning thousands of people and intensifying the oppression and police atmosphere, the Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran believes that any interaction and compromise in the current situation by the democratic countries of the world should be stopped.
Since President Joe Biden's administration has declared the expansion of democracy in the world as one of its main goals it is more important to prove it. Now that the people of Iran have formed a great uprising against the ruling religious tyranny, the absolute rejection of the dictatorship around the central slogan of "women, life, freedom", there is no reason for the continuation of negotiations and interaction on the part of the United States and the European Union.
Now it is necessary for the democratic countries to explicitly support the struggles of the Iranian people. The need for real and non-rhetorical support is to reduce the level of diplomatic relations and suspend negotiations on the restoration of the JCPOA. We believe that in the existing situation, negotiations and agreements with the Islamic Republic will not solve the problems of the Iranian people, and on the contrary, it will lead to the consolidation of tyranny and the severity of the oppression of the people.
Democratic countries are expected to call their ambassadors from Tehran to their capitals and demand an end to repression and violence against protesters by reducing the level of diplomatic relations. Individuals and institutions active in the repression and violence of protesters should be sanctioned by the West. They should help to thwart the Islamic Republic's attempt to block information and cut off the relationship between inside and outside the country.
Now is the time to increase the pressure of the international community on the Islamic Republic, not reduce it. Success in the revolutionary transition from the Islamic Republic to democracy will greatly contribute to lasting peace and weakening extremism in the world and stability in the Middle East.
We urge the international community to pressure their government to stop any ongoing negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and demand their governments in any way they see fit to put pressure on the authorities of the Islamic Republic and effectively support the pro-democracy struggles of the Iranian people. The Iranian People need our support more than ever!
Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran
October 6, 2022
