Let me say for the years we’ve been together, the times we have met both here and in America, it is a particularly great honor to have the opportunity to follow Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, who being here sends such a powerful signal that everyone who is opposed to the dictatorship is coming together to end the regime and bring freedom back to Iran.
We are in the middle of an election campaign in America, and the nature of the Iranian dictatorship is a big key issue in that election. There are no moderates in the dictatorship. The dictatorship cannot be trusted. The agreement made with it is insane. Giving money to the leading state sponsor of terrorism makes no sense, and every single day, when they rejected the U.N., the dictatorship has said to the West, “We’ll sign anything you want. It just has no meaning. Give us the money.” They have methodically outmaneuvered the diplomats of the United States and European countries.
We have an obligation with your help to communicate one key fact — with support, with encouragement, with a systematic effort: The people of Iran will rise against the dictatorship, and we will eliminate the dictatorship as a threat to civilization.
What you are doing by being here — by bringing all of these delegations who come from all around the world, by getting the news media to pay attention to the importance of your cause — I want each of you to know that being here is an important act of citizenship… that you are making a difference, that you are part of history, and that with your continued commitment you are winning the argument.
And that’s part of what having Prince Turki Al Faisal meant. The fact that he would come here is a tribute to your commitment, it’s a tribute to your involvement. And so I want you to know that the message I will take home to America is that there are thousands and thousands of Iranians who are prepared, who are ready, who are committed and who believe that we can truly bring democracy to Iran.
• Mr. Gingrich, a Republican, is former speaker of the House of Representatives and former U.S. representative of Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. These excerpts are from remarks he gave at the July 9 rally in Paris.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Onwards to freedom in Iran: Bipartisan voices call for democratic change
Please read our comment policy before commenting.