In Paris Friday, freedom-loving Iranians held a major "Free Iran 2018" conference, featuring a panel discussion with experts from the U.S., Canada, France, and Algeria, discussing the consequences of recent protests in Iran along with what's going on with the Iranian opposition.  Among them, there were experts who praised both Iran's top opposition leader, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, and President Trump.

The panel discussion was a public exchange of ideas, giving experts and audience members the chance to discuss the difference between what we saw before in past protests and what we see now going on in Iran.

Mitchell Reiss.

According to a National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI) report, Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, a former director of U.S. State Department policy, who moderated the event, said, "Today Madame Rajavi [the leader of NCRI] is widely respected as the inspiration behind the democratic movement for change in Iran," adding that the current momentum is on the side of those who want a democratic Iran.  "Credit must go first and foremost to Madame Maryam Rajavi and the members of NCRI," Reiss said, reminding listeners of the role the Iranian opposition played in the protests.

"Many in America will rally to your cause if you present them," Reiss said.

"There's a material difference between what we saw before and what we see now.  The protests are widespread, and that is a hopeful sign," said Michael Mukasey, former U.S. attorney general during the George W. Bush administration.

The JCPOA (Ben Rhodes's Iran deal) gave Iran a lot of money, and that money did not go into the economy, Mukasey said.  "The slogans of the protests are focused on telling the regime that we're not interested in seeing our money spent on Lebanon and Syria.  We want it to be spent here."

"We want to thank the men and women of Iran that have come to the forefront to fight for everything that the MEK has stood for," said Louis Freeh, former director of the FBI.

Louis Freeh.

Freeh reminded the audience that the regime and the IRGC (Iran's revoluationary guard) continue to export terrorism in the region and that sanctions have not deterred the primary goal of exporting terrorism.

"However, the command and control of the regime has started to deteriorate considerably," he said.  A testament to that fact is that the protests are becoming inclusive and are covering all of Iran.

"The resumption of sanctions is a key change and catalyst," Freeh said, reminding that despite rhetoric we hear from different European states, companies will not take the risk of secondary U.S. sanctions for dealing with Iran.

"It's time to push forward with confidence, consistence and with a vision," Freeh concluded.  "Part of that vision is getting Madame Rajavi to visit the United States."

"I'm pleased to stand in solidarity with you and the people of Iran," said John Baird, former foreign minister of Canada.

John Baird.

Baird praised Iran for its phenomenal history and its great people and education.  "The only thing holding the people of Iran back are the mullahs," Baird said.  "We must rally these people to come together and fight for a better future."

"It's the first time in 65 years that a American president understands something about Iran," said Yves Bonnet, former governor and head of France's Internal Security Service (DST).

Yves Bonnet.

"In a true democracy [such as] ours, we have all the keys to understand the ideals PMOI and the NCRI, which we share," Bonnet said, praising the PMOI-MEK for having stayed true to its ideals and its course despite the many trials and tribulations in the recent decades.

"The political situation in Iran is like a volcano," Struan Stevenson, coordinator for change in Iran and former president of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq, asserted.

Stevenson remarked that the significance of recent protests in Iran is that it was a massive uprising not only in Tehran, but in 142 cities.  "These are young people who are prepared to risk the ultimate price and go to protests," he said.  "There's going to be a volcanic eruption that will sweep away this evil regime."

Despite the regime's violent retaliation, arresting 8,000 people and torturing 14 people to death, people are still protesting, Stevenson said.

"The people who are taking to the streets have had enough," he said.  "They look at the way the mullahs have stolen their money and are using the wealth of Iran to finance Bashar al-Assad and the brutal Shiite militias in Iraq, to finance Houthis in Lebanon, Hezbollah in Lebanon.  They're saying forget about Syria, think about us."

Stevenson also emphasized that there are no moderates in the Iranian regime and protesters are saying that in their protests.  "Rouhani is not a moderate or else he wouldn't be president," he said.  "He's an evil monster like the other mullahs."

Stevenson also said that last week's protests in Tehran's bazaar are significant because the merchants of the Grand Bazaar were considered the traditional backbone of the regime.  "But now they're protesting to the collapsing economy," he said.

"The interesting thing that has emerged from all this: The leaders are now pointing the finger of blame at the MEK," Stevenson said.  "They used to say the MEK is ... insignificant.  Now they're saying that they're behind the uprisings.  They fear the MEK."

Stevenson concluded by saying Mrs. Rajavi must be invited to the United Kingdom.  "We the people of Europe expect more from our leaders," he said.

"We cannot have a moderate mullahs' regime because the regime is based on using Islam to kill people.  The regime can't have a moderate current," said Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former prime minister of Algeria.

Ghozali spoke to the importance, the history, and the role of the MEK, especially as protests erupt across Iran, reminding listeners of their history and the sacrifices they've made to promote democracy and freedom in their country.

"Tomorrow there'll be a democratic movement that will be able to manage the economy of the country," he said, underlining that the Iranian opposition is the only viable alternative to the current regime.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate, specializing in political and economic issues relating to Iran and the Mideast.