- The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Guli Francis-Dehqani, believes the Iranian regime is in its “death throes” but warns it should not be underestimated, expressing deep personal concern and an inability to contact people in Iran.
- Her family experienced severe persecution after the 1979 revolution, including an assassination attempt on her father and the murder of her brother, which led them to settle in the UK as refugees.
- Bishop Francis-Dehqani affirmed the UK's decision not to participate in initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran, stating it was right to uphold international law.
- She fears Iran could descend into a civil war due to the absence of a credible opposition and the brutal crackdown by the current regime.
- The Bishop stressed that any regime change must originate from within Iran, with the West providing support rather than direct intervention, and noted the presence of terrorist dissident groups exploiting the unrest.
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