On the eve of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Bulletin News, an outlet linked to the intelligence unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, reported on November 21, 2024: “The European Parliament has recently been the venue for political maneuvers centered around Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the People’s Mojahedine Organization of Iran.”
The People’s Mujahedin, the main opposition group to the Iranian regime, is the principal component of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), led by Maryam Rajavi. During a recent meeting at the European Parliament, Rajavi called for a non-nuclear future for Iran and emphasized the NCRI’s commitment to regime change. Notably, it was the NCRI that first exposed Tehran’s clandestine nuclear activities in 2002, revelations that reshaped international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program.
According to Bulletin News, Rajavi’s presence at the European Parliament came at the invitation of several parliamentarians. The outlet claimed that “Tehran not only deems these policies ineffective but also views them as exacerbating tensions with Europe,” describing Rajavi’s participation as “a harbinger of a deeper crisis in Tehran-Brussels relations.”
The Iranian regime, continuing to defy international agreements, has been accused of using concealment, misleading proposals, and covert activities to pursue its nuclear weapons program—a strategic effort Tehran reportedly sees as a guarantee for its survival.
The IAEA Board of Governors issued a resolution on November 21 condemning Iran’s escalating nuclear activities and demanding its immediate cooperation with the agency. The resolution was adopted with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions, and dissenting votes from China, Russia, and Burkina Faso. This marked the second formal condemnation of Iran by the IAEA within six months.
The Board’s decision drew sharp reactions from political leaders and governments worldwide. Responding to the resolution, Maryam Rajavi stated: “The immediate implementation of the trigger mechanism—referring to the re-imposition of sanctions in response to violations of nuclear agreements—and the activation of the six United Nations Security Council resolutions, long overdue, are the first necessary steps. Yet, true liberation from the grasp of a terrorist nuclear dictatorship ultimately requires regime change led by the Iranian people and resistance.”
The resolution was drafted by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with support from the United States, and was presented just hours before its adoption. Earlier that day, the three European nations jointly demanded an immediate reduction of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to below 60 percent, a critical threshold in nuclear development.
According to Reuters, the resolution reiterated longstanding calls for Iran to provide credible explanations for uranium traces found at undeclared sites, a sticking point in negotiations. Previous resolutions, passed in November 2022 and June 2024, had underscored the “necessity and urgency” of resolving these outstanding issues.
In response to the latest condemnation, the Islamic Republic of Iran announced it would begin operating advanced centrifuges, signaling further defiance. Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister issued a stark warning, declaring that 2025 “will be a year of turbulence.”
As tensions escalate, the coming months may prove critical for Tehran’s relationship with the international community—and for the stability of the region as a whole.
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