The National Council of Resistance of Iran, an exiled coalition of Iranian opposition groups, was due to meet near Paris on Saturday, where major international figures such as the USs former UN ambassador John Bolton were expected to speak.The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled coalition of Iranian opposition groups, was due to meet inthe northern Paris suburb of Villepinte on Saturday for the 10th annual Conference for Democratic Change in Iran.
Major international policy figures, including ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and outspoken Republican Newt Gingrich, were promised to speak at the event.
The expected turnout was impressive, considering that the movement, which includes such organisations as the Peoples Mujahideen of Iran, was on the USs list of designated terrorist organisations until last year.
Once the vanguard of resistance to Iran's shah, the movement has been in exile for three decades.
While the NCRI presents itself as a legitimate opposition organisation, critics say it's an out-of-touch expatriate lobby with a lot of money and little relevance to Iran's problems one that has at times proved useful to the West and which is highly skilled at telling politicians what they want to hear.
By France 24
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