Experts Shed Light on Disinformation's Role in Shaping Western Policy on Iran

Distinguished politicians and national security experts from both sides of the Atlantic recently gathered in Paris for a pivotal conference on June 30. The event centered around the urgent issue of the popular uprising in Iran and the critical need for an alternative and effective Western policy towards the Iranian regime.

The nationwide uprisings triggered after the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran have disrupted the power dynamics between the Iranian people and the state, offering valuable insights into the aspirations of the majority of Iranians. This has led to a better understanding within the international community of their desires. However, in response to the perceived threat to its survival, the clerical regime has initiated a complex and multifaceted disinformation campaign aimed at creating the illusion of successfully crushing dissent both at home and abroad.

The conference featured four distinct panels, each shedding light on different aspects of the truth surrounding the clerical regime and its disinformation tactics. The first panel, titled "Disinformation and Its Impact on Western Policy on Iran," brought together esteemed participants such as former FBI director Louie Freeh, former leader of the Canadian Conservative Party Candice Bergen, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr., British MP Steve McCabe, and former MEP Struan Stevenson.

Their contributions during the panel were broadcasted live via satellite link inside Iran and translated into five languages for global audiences.

During the conference, Mr. Struan Stevenson, former MEP, highlighted the regime's ongoing demonization campaign against the opposition and emphasized that it is baseless propaganda. He called upon attendees to ignore these false narratives and stressed that 119 ex-world leaders have signed a statement supporting the Iranian people's right to rise up against the tyrannical regime and endorsing the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK).

Candice Bergen, former Leader of the Canadian Conservative Party, shared her experience of being targeted with disinformation and misinformation after attending a women's conference in Brussels organized by the NCRI Women's Committee. She emphasized the importance of rejecting lies and half-truths, promoting truth and accountability, and standing up to disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting opponents of the regime.

Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI, highlighted the challenges faced in removing the NCRI and the MEK from the terrorist list due to embedded propaganda. He stressed the need to encourage opposition media and free speech to counter disinformation and misinformation.

Ambassador Lincoln Bloomfield Jr., former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, shared his research that uncovered an entirely different narrative about the resistance and the regime, challenging the commonly believed misconceptions. He urged journalists to stop repeating information which is not fact checked and emphasized the importance of accurate reporting.

Steve McCabe MP, a member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, underlined the regime's fundamental reliance on falsehoods, propaganda, and covert activities. He spoke about the influence of disinformation, which extends to both left-wing and right-wing political spheres, citing instances of demonization in the media. He stressed the need to recognize the regime as a group of gangsters and called for the banning of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The conference highlighted the detrimental impact of disinformation on Western policy towards Iran. It served as a platform for experts to expose the false narratives propagated by the regime and emphasized the importance of accurate information, unity, and support for a democratic Iran. The insights shared during the conference contribute to a more informed approach in countering disinformation and shaping effective Western policies that align with the aspirations of the Iranian people.