Iranian Resistance Meeting in the US with the presence of former Vice President Mike Pence
November 1, 2021, 2:45 pm

Iranian Resistance Meeting in the US with the presence of former Vice President Mike Pence

US and Iran

On Thursday, October 28, supporters of the People's Mujahidin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a large conference in Washington DC. The conference, titled, "2021 Free Iran Summit: Holding Ebrahim Raisi Accountable for Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, Regional Meddling, and Nuclear Defiance,"

This conference, however, was significantly different from similar meetings that were previously held in the United States. In this ever-important gathering, in addition to distinguished American personalities such as Senator Joe Lieberman, US Vice President candidate (2000), Senator Torricelli, U.S. Senator (1997-2003), Honorable Judge Michael Mukasey, 81st U.S. Attorney General, General James Conway, the former commander of the US Marine Marines, etc., who have already attended such meetings many times in the past and expressed their support for the MEK and the NCRI. The presence of former Vice President Mike Pence, at the meeting, magnified the importance of this conference.
In his speech, Vice-President Mike Pence, who has rarely appeared in public since the November election, stated that he was attending the meeting as his first opportunity after leaving office to talk in detail about Iran.

He mentioned that although he was no longer talking as part of the U.S. government, he assured the audience that he was expressing the views and longings of the tens of millions of Americans who strongly support the establishment of a democratic republic, based on the separation of religion and state in Iran. He continued his speech by condemning Ebrahim Raisi and calling for his trial for crimes against humanity and for the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988, saying that the election of Ebrahim Raisi as president of the Iranian regime was a sign that the regime is in a state of desperation and weakness.

All indications are that the authoritarian regime in Iran knows that the days of its life are numbered, but one of the great lies that the mullahs are trying to convince the world is that there is no alternative to them, and therefore the current situation must be accepted. In response, Vice-President Mike Pence mentioned that on the contrary, there is an alternative, and it is well organized and well-prepared.

This alternative has all the competencies and enjoys the support of the Iranian people. The name of this alternative is MEK, meaning the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran. Pence said the organization is committed to freedom and human rights for all Iranians and is led by a great woman named Maryam Rajavi, who inspires the world. Her ten-point plan for Iran's future guarantees freedom of expression.

It also establishes freedom of assembly and freedom for all Iranians to elect their own leaders and coexist peacefully with all independent countries in the region.

It seems that Mike Pence's full support for the Iranian people's quest for freedom and democracy, led by the People's Mujahedin of Iran and Maryam Rajavi, reflects a profound understanding and recognition of the vulnerability and unpopularity of the regime in Tehran, on the one hand, and the presence and existence of a viable alternative to the mullahs' regime, on the other hand, among the politician and media in the United States.

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It is worth mentioning that last July, the former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, participated in an online conference and spoke at a three-day meeting organized by pro-resistance Iranian American communities in the US. In his speech, Secretary Pompeo also expressed his support for the resistance of the Iranian people and pointed out that the time for the possible establishment of another monarchy in Iran is over.

Prior to Secretary Pompeo's speech at the online conference, dozens of senators and members of Congress from both political parties in America, as well as a large number of American generals, expressed their full support for the establishment of a democratic republic led under Ms. Maryam Rajavi’s leadership.

In Iran, however, the reaction of the regime media to Vice-president Pence's speech was very hostile, as expected. Almost all the regime’s media covered this meeting and Mike Pence’s presence and his support of MEK and Ms. Rajavi and their opposition to the JCPOA agreement employing, of course, using their own language and culture! Because, on one hand, they do not want to spoil the morale of their precarious forces by publishing such news of their dire situation, and on the other hand, they are worried that under the pressure of the opposers of JCPOA, such as Pence and Pompeo, the US government and the British, France And Germany, that want to continue negotiations and reach a new agreement, conclude that negotiations are useless and a waste of time and only buys time for the Iranian regime to advance its nuclear program to acquire a bomb, and consequently start an alternative plan B.

That is, to refer Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council, re-imposing all UN sanctions, and implementing chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes military operations against the regime's nuclear facilities, which will certainly accelerate the overthrow of the mullahs' regime.

by: Cyrus Yaqubi

Cyrus Yaqubi is a Research Analyst and Iranian Foreign Affairs Commentator investigating the social issues and economy of the Middle East countries in general and Iran in particular.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.