The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain’s remarks in his video message to the “Free Iran” conference in Paris last weekend were featured in the Washington Times.

McCain said, “As you boldly call for democracy and human rights in Iran, the American people stand with you in your fight against violence, oppression and terrorism in Iran. Your display of unity is an inspiration to our nation and its people, who like you, sacrificed blood and treasure in pursuit of freedom.”

Ed Rendell is the former governor of Pennsylvania and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  He is also the Chairman of the host committee for the Democratic National Convention, so he was not available to attend the “Free Iran” conference held in Paris this past weekend.  The message of support he sent was published in the Washington Times, July 13.

Tom Ridge, a former secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department and former governor and member of Congress from Pennsylvania, spoke at the “Free Iran” rally in Paris on 9th July.

He quoted the Iranian poet and patriot, Simin Behbahani, who said: “Stop this extravagance. Stop the reckless throwing of my country to the wind. Stop the screaming, the bloodshed, the mayhem. Stop doing what makes God’s creatures mourn in tears.” Behbahani wrote this in response to the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on the 2009 public protest. Ridge highlighted that she wrote this in retaliation for her exercise of what she believed was her civil right and her civic duty to challenge authoritarian evil. She said: “You may wish to have me burned or decide to stone me, but in your hand, match or stone will lose the power to harm me.”

Howard Dean, a medical doctor, former governor of Vermont and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spoke at a rally in Paris organised by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the Iranian opposition. The Washington Times published an article summarising his speech.

He said at the “Free Iran” rally that the Iranian Resistance deserves praise. He added that the State Department deserves mention too. Over the years he has had a lot of harsh words for the State Department with regards to “the issue of keeping their word to the people now at Liberty and before at Ashraf”.

Newt Gingrich, a Republican and former speaker of the House of Representatives and former U.S. representative of Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, spoke at the Free Iran rally in Paris on 9th July. The Washington Times published an article in which his remarks were summarised. 

He said that the nature of the Iranian dictatorship is a key issue in the current American election campaign. The nuclear deal made with Iran was “insane”, he said. Firstly, there are no moderates in Iran. Secondly, the dictatorship cannot be trusted. He said that giving money to the “leading state sponsor of terrorism makes no sense”.

The Washington Times published an article about the Free Iran rally held in Paris on 9th July in which tens of thousands of supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) gathered “to call for the downfall of Iran’s theocratic government”.