Rudy Giuliani has said that negotiating with Iran over terror plots only buys them more time, insisting that the West is in a battle for Western civilisation. The former New York mayor made the comments while in Rome supporting the National Council for Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian pro-democracy group seeking to end nearly 50 years of religious dictatorship.
Giuliani Backs Iranian Opposition Group
Giuliani, 88, met with the NCRI, which aims to transition Iran to a modern secular democracy with separate religion and state, and women's rights paramount. The group's leader, Maryam Rajavi, has created a "10-point-plan," described as an Iranian Bill of Rights, promising free and fair elections within six months of attaining power, the end of the death penalty, and no nuclear weapons.
Speaking about the approach to Iran, Giuliani said: "Terrorists can smell bullshit, and they are smart enough to know when they see appeasement. Words do not combat terrorists, they encourage terrorists."
MEK Support and History
Giuliani explained his support for the MEK, a component of the NCRI, dating back to 2010. He said he gave a speech at the UN protesting former Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad being allowed to speak, stating: "if you are a murdering dictator you don't get to speak." After the speech, he met MEK members and was told they were the best hope for Iran.
He recounted that late US Republican Senator John McCain gave him books to read and told him the communist label was propaganda. Giuliani added: "I have not met an American general who doesn't support the MEK, the support at the top of our military is overwhelming." He also claimed he worked with Democrats and Republicans to force Hillary Clinton to overturn the ruling that the MEK were terrorists, saying: "I don't know why they were designated in the first place but I am pretty convinced we had Iranian spooks in the administration."
Women Key to Overthrow
Giuliani described Rajavi as "perfect" for leading the opposition, noting her 40 years of work and the 10-point plan. He emphasised the role of women in challenging the regime, referencing women defying the Iranian regime and risking death.
He said: "Women are absolutely key to this. I see so many videos of women defying the Iranian regime, to the point of risking death." He cited Masha Amini, who he said "was murdered just for having a hair out of place," and noted women are not wearing head coverings at all, calling their actions "really brave."
Giuliani stated: "The MEK is the only game in town." He added that the regime is "the worst and most brutal attack on women in the modern era," saying: "They do not care if Iran's women are murdered, slaughtered, raped... And yet, inexplicably, some of our major feminist groups remain silent."
Call for Stronger Action
Giuliani expressed frustration with the response to the Islamic Republic, saying: "We are in a battle for western civilisation and Europe is even further behind the US where that fight is concerned." He added: "I see western civilisation as very weak right now."
He concluded: "I believe the most noble thing you can do with your life is fight for freedom, and it is rare that you find an organisation which is perfectly aligned with that, but that is what I found in Maryam Rajavi and the NCRI."
