The National Council of Resistance of Iran was formed by a group called the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK). Both the MEK and NCRI are headed by Rajavi Maryam. It was initially formed by Massoud Rajavi who disappeared during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Maryam Rajavi has since been the public face of the two organizations. The NCRI played a role in exposing the nuclear facilities in Iran. It was removed from the foreign terrorist list by the US government in 2012 and has gained international recognition. The organization has its headquarters in France and Albania.
The weaponization of the Iranian nuclear program
To continue its resistance in Iran the National Council of Resistance of Iran has been conducting secret surveillance in the Iranian government. It concluded that the Iranian government had built new areas to continue the development of its nuclear program, which is a violation of the JCPOA agreement it had signed. The centre is built in the east of Tehran near the largest ballistic industry. It provides a cover for it to continue its nuclear program. This development came when the arms embargo had just been lifted. The NCRI also said that this is not a surprise since the Iranians have never backed their nuclear program down. The site is said to have been built after the signing of the JCPOA in 2015, by China, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, European Union and Iran. The construction of the site was said to have commenced in 2012. By 2017, it was fully operational. The Iranians have been violating the JCPOA agreement since its inception. This revelation also showed that the Russians have been selling sensitive seismometers to Iran to conduct nuclear tests. It clearly shows that the Iranians cannot be trusted with the international push to end terrorism. In 2002 the council disclosed the location of the nuclear sites of Natanz and Arak. The West should therefore change the appeasement policy that has permitted Iran to continue with its nuclear program. The JCPOA agreement did not prohibit Iran's nuclear program.
The terrorist training of Houthi
The council has also released new information that claims Iran is training and arming terrorists who fight the Yemeni government. The Quds are a force guard cops who are responsible for offshore operations. The Quds are known to train terrorists who will later go to foreign soil in Yemen, Iraq, and the Gulf. The Qud's main objective is to stop shipment in the Red sea. It supplies Europe and links Europe to Asia and Africa. The Quds are training Houthi rebels who have a heavy presence in the Yemen War. The training happens in three academies of Ziba Kenar, Farur and Qeshm. The Quds supply the Houthi rebels with drones and ballistic missiles through the sea. The Houthi rebels train to use mines, speedboats and other armaments. The council has called for a reaction from the West, although the West is still pursuing Iran to sign the nuclear deal. The Quds linked to other terrorist attacks like the failed attacks in Abu Dhabi.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran's main concepts
With president-elect Rajavi Maryam being a woman, they continue to apply pressure on the Iranian regime to improve women's rights in Iran. The National Council supports the human rights of women, the capitalist ideology, religious freedoms, the rights of the minority, and Iran’s relation with the international community. They are pushing for gender equality to be achived. It is noticeable that half of the members of the council are women. Other members are religious and ethnic minorities. The National Council has been advocating for free and fair elections in Iran under the watch of the United Nations. They are calling for the removal of sharia law and the improvement of the judicial system. They also want Iran would stop its nuclear program and dispose of its entire nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction.
The worldwide reception of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
The governments of Iran and Iraq consider the national council as a terrorist organization. At some point, The US and the EU considered the National Council a foreign terrorist organization, both later lifted this status. Some people still believe that the National Council is a terrorist organization targeting western cities. In 2006 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) verified information disclosed by the National Council concerning the Iranian nuclear program. They called for international recognition of the national council.
