ANALYSIS: Is this the beginning of a new era for Iraq without Iran?

The military phase of the fight against ISIS is winding down after the liberation of Mosul, and the battle for the nearby town of Tal Afar is predicted to end soon. This has provided an opportunity for Iraq to begin distancing itself from the influence gained by Iran following the disastrous 2003 war, and returning to its true Arabic heritage.

Iraq was known as a melting pot where Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens lived alongside and in mixed societies for centuries. Prior to Iran gaining its disastrous sway across Mesopotamia, this was a land where the majority of Shiites lived and prospered with their Sunni, Christian, Yazidi and all other religious minority brothers.

Has not the time arrived for Iraq to regain its true position as part of the Arab world, and rid its soil of the meddling of Iran’s clerics?

Long-awaited developments

Iraqi officials have embarked on a new campaign of visiting Saudi Arabia and other Arab Sunni states, signaling long-welcomed changes. The influential Sadrist leader Muqtada was seen in the final days of July meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

Only days later Sadr paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates, another critic of Iran’s policies, where he was welcomed as an Iraqi leader by a slate of leading politicians and clerics.

Sadr’s visit rendered a variety of measures by Riyadh, including launching a Saudi Consulate in Sadr’s hometown of Najaf, one of the two holiest Shiite cities in Iraq. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, known as Iraq’s most senior Shiite cleric, his distance from Tehran’s viewpoints and calling for Iraq to practice openness in establishing relations, did not block such a proposition.

CALLS FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE 1988 MASSACRE LEAD TO CRACKDOWN ON MEK/PMOI

As the movement for calling for justice in regards to the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners grows, the Iranian regime is fighting back in an attempt to discredit the movement. Recently, the state-run Basij News wrote, “The People’s Mojahedin of Iran (MEK/PMOI) has organized the maximum propaganda and military activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The unresolved issue is how some of the political circles support the MEK’s measures in the current situation and they question the events of the 80s, while trying to call the hangman a martyr.”

Various members of the leadership of the regime have also spoken out against France for hosting the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) annual event. “France hosts Iran’s enemies, whereas it established economic relations with Iran after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” said Foad Yazidi at a meeting entitled “The Islamic Human Rights’ Conference”.

He also noted, “We had a lot of sanctions before the Iran Nuclear Deal. However, the question is that who is left out sanctions after this deal? According to this law, even the President could be sanctioned. The U.S. has enlisted us as the enemy country. Consequently, it doesn’t make much of a difference to give or not to give concessions as long as we are on this list.”

The focus of the regime has been to discredit the movement by discrediting the MEK, which is seen as the backbone of the protests and domestic uprisings within Iran. Members of the regime argue that the state needs to confront the MEK, versus brushing them under the rug. Many argue that the regime’s unwillingness to talk about the massacre has given the MEK a foothold with the youth and others, because of the questions they are able to raise.

“We should have given people as much information about the MEK that there was no ambiguity about the executions in 1988,” said Mohammad Sadeq Koushki, an international affairs expert in Iran.
The regime seems unable to stop or derail the popular position of the MEK with the younger generation in Iran, despite all the efforts through the state-run media, lobbyists in the international community, and outright suppression of the group. Throughout these efforts, the MEK/PMOI have continued to focus on the rights of the Iranian people and advocate for human rights and the freedom to express a political opinion that is not in agreement with the regime.

Even within the regime, there is talk about how films about the MEK must reflect the views of the regime. If they are historically accurate, then the filmmaker must be a supporter of the MEK. One filmmaker was quoted as saying, “Many people, even at the government level, go along with these deceptive slogans.”

The MEK/PMOI has been a voice of political opposition, questioning the actions of the Iranian regime. Working with their network within the country, they have exposed the actions of the regime to the international community, making it clear that the regime can’t be trusted.

In addition to the MEK/PMOI, other voices in opposition to the regime have built a coalition, known as the NCRI. This group has become the democratic alternative to the fundamentalism of the regime. Their 10-Point Plan is the basis for building a free, non-nuclear, and democratic country in place of the fundamentalism and exporting of terrorism that is the regime’s bread and butter.

Iran Regime's Officials Express Their Fear About PMOI/MEK Activities in Propagating Information on 1988 Massacre

NCRI - In response to “the justice seeking Movement for victims of 1988 massacre” and along with the three-day Iranian Resistance Satellite TV ‘Simay Azadi's’ event on the anniversary of the Massacre, state run Basij News writes," The People's Mojahedin of Iran (MEK/PMOI) has organized the maximum propagandas and military activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Basij News added," The unresolved issue is that how some of the political circles support the MEK’s measures in the current situation and they question the events of the  while trying to call the hangman as a martyr."

Basij News also refers to MEK’s disclosures concerning the bomb constructions in Iran, writing, "Disclosing regime's nuclear activities was the pretext for imposing the most extensive sanctions against the Iran regime."

The Head of Regime's Research Center also referred to the advancement of the Justice Seeking Movement, stating, "Some of the regime's enemies have been seriously involved in the Justice Seeking Movement of 1988 during the past two or three years and the number of those executed is rising exponentially by each year."

Mohammad Hossein Zarifian expressed concern about the release of evidence about Khomenei's order on MEK’s genocide in 1988, and stated, "The foreign channels broadcast different documentaries on this matter. The summer is the peak of such broadcasts and these executions are named as a holocaust for MEK."

An expert on political issues, Foad Yazidi in a meeting entitled with "The Islamic Human Rights' Conference" referred to the great gathering of MEK in Paris. He stated," France hosts Iran's enemies whereas it established economic relations with Iran after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)."

Foad Yazidi also stated, "We had a lot of sanctions before Iran Nuclear Deal. However, the question is that who is left out of sanctions after this deal? According to this law even The President could be sanctioned, The U.S. has enlisted us as the enemy country. Consequently it doesn’t make much of difference to give or not to give concessions as long as we are on this list."