Thank you Mr. Hassan Shariatmadri, the Secretary General of the “Iran Transition Council” for this interview. Can you please first tell us about the current situation in the Islamic Republic?
Islamic Republic is now a political or ideological system in chaos, consisting of various financially corrupt mafia like groups. Khamenei is the major player of these political games, but not the only one. He is more of a figure head needed for this criminal, chaotic and corrupt cult to remain in power. At the same time the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is increasing more, not only in economic fields but also in cultural, social, and political arenas.
Why do you think in this situation, an umbrella organization is needed to facilitate the transition from the Islamic Republic to a Democratic system?
This Chaos cannot continue. Majority of Iranians are obviously against this system. The resistance movements are rapidly growing. Under the hardest sanctions of recent History, the banking system is completely isolated from the rest of the world and the economy is suffering from the lack of needed resources, paralyzing the regime’s need to cover the most necessities of Iranians.
To pay the salaries, they are printing currency without proper backing and increasing the liquidity wastefully. Shortage of resources has caused a power struggle among insiders. These facts are running this chaotic, corrupt and brutal system to an internal Implosion.
In order to prevent the spread of the collapse of the ruling regime to our Society or transformation of Iran to a Failed State, we need a structured democratic alternative to the Islamic Republic. Without such an alternative, Iran as an ancient civilization may fall and disappear from the world map. We are at the crossroad of existence or extinction and we are formed to assure of this ancient nation’s survival, rising to the place that they historically deserve.
The people need a support center. “Iran Transition Council” (ITC) as a non-denominated alternative will encourage Iranians to stand up and rise, with a hope to a bright and better future.
Is ITC open to all individuals, parties, organizations, groups and oppositions of the Islamic republic or are there some redlines?
We are an open organization, with the philosophy of Inclusivity and Integrity. Of course, there are some conditions to accept new members, such as believing in secular democracy, human rights and territorial integrity of Iran as well as supporting the anti-Discrimination struggles and movements, especially for women and ethnicities and accepting the non-violent civil resistance as our major strategy against the ruling sect.
Iran is a multiethnic country. What role the ethnic Groups can play in the transitional period?
The role of ethnic groups in such a sensitive period is very important. Being a member of Iran Transition Council, automatically differs these groups from separatists and shows their belonging and commitment to a united Iran with a democratic and anti-discriminatory future.
We are proud to have enjoyed the benefits of membership of some ethnic leaders in Iran Transition Council. They will play a great role in including all ethnicities in the widespread resistance movements, strikes and demonstrations in Iran. Without participation of women and ethnicities, the future democracy in Iran cannot be achieved.
Is ITC open to republicans and monarchists alike? Meaning Iranians, in the post-Islamic Republic period can decide how the country should be ruled?
At this phase, Iran Transition Council has only one goal: Getting rid of the Islamic Republic and nothing else. There are republicans, monarchists and federalists among us. In the post Islamic Republic phase, the people should be able to freely decide for their Future System and electing the members of Constitution Assembly to write the new Constitution of their choice and to legalize it in a Referendum.
Thank you for your time.
