‘Glimmer of hope [for] safety, dignity and freedom’

OPINION:

Participants of the Free Iran Global Summit, I am glad to stand with the Iranian people and help shine a light on the voices working to expose the aggressiveness and abusiveness of the current Iranian regime. I am pleased, as I was last year, that so many of you are safely in Albania. Your safety and security offer a glimmer of hope that all Iranian people may someday be able to live in safety, dignity and freedom. A dream that I know you will all keep working towards, and one which the United States supports.

Over the past year, we’ve seen Iran’s leaders prove again on the world stage they are not interested in making peace with their neighbors or prioritizing the wellbeing of their people. The regime continues to support terrorists and the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad, while continuing on its path towards a nuclear weapon.

While in Congress we may have differing approaches about the best way to address the threat from Iran, rest assured that we remain united in opposition to the regime’s ongoing abuses against its own citizens oppressing women and denying their fundamental rights, jailing peaceful activists, and threatening journalists. Moreover, we stand united in our efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from continuing to export its ideology in the form of terrorist actors and destabilizing activities. And we are united in preventing the regime in Tehran from being able to threaten its neighbors and the world with a nuclear weapon.

We must engage in diplomatic efforts, in concert with our likeminded partners, and in cooperation with people who appreciate and value the role of human rights and democratic values.