House of Liberty to Lead European Parliament Conference onSanctions and Security to Counter the Iran-Russia Alliance

PRESS RELEASE

House of Liberty

January 27, 2025 – Brussels, Belgium: House of Liberty (HOL), a leading NGO advocating for secular democracy in Iran, is launching a vital initiative to expose and counter the Iran-Russia alliance—a partnership that seeks to undermine international economic sanctions and embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide.

This initiative will be officially unveiled at a landmark conference, “Countering the Iranian Regime’s Threats: Strengthening the EU Sanctions Regime,” hosted by MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White at the European Parliament on February 4, 2025. The conference, organized by the House of Liberty, aims to showcase practical strategies to reinforce EU sanctions as a critical tool against aggression and global destabilization.

The Rising Iran-Russia Threat

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, its growing collaboration with Iran to counter sanctions and destabilize the global order has reached alarming levels. This conference will uncover the methods employed by Tehran and Moscow to weaken Western sanctions and demonstrate why strengthening these measures is vital to defending European security, democratic values, and energy independence.

Highlighting the Role of Sanctions

Evidence gathered by HOL and its network of experts underscores the critical importance of sanctions in combating the Iran-Russia threat. Through disinformation campaigns, sanctions-evasion tactics, and geopolitical maneuvering, both regimes are actively working to bypass international restrictions. This underscores the necessity of robust, well-enforced sanctions to neutralize their destabilizing activities and protect global stability.

Key Issues Addressed at the Conference:

How Iran and Russia evade sanctions: Exposing the tactics used to circumvent sanctions, including exploiting loopholes and leveraging proxy networks.
The strategic value of sanctions in countering authoritarian regimes: Highlighting their effectiveness as a diplomatic and economic tool.
Disinformation and lobbying campaigns: Revealing how Iranian regime lobbyists and propaganda distort narratives in Western institutions.
The broader implications of the Iran-Russia partnership: Assessing its impact on EU security, energy policy, and political stability.

Two Expert Panels

The conference will feature two panels of renowned experts and policymakers:

Political Focus: The ability of sanctions to effectively counter Iran’s malign activities, including nuclear ambitions, human rights violations, and regional destabilization.
Technical Focus: Strengthening sanctions enforcement, designing targeted measures, and disrupting Iran-Russia efforts to undermine EU and U.S. policies.

Special attention will be given to the snapback mechanism as a deterrent to Iran’s nuclear escalation and the importance of aligning EU sanctions enforcement with U.S. standards to maximize their impact.

Distinguished Speakers Include:

MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White: Champion of democracy and sanctions reform in the European Parliament.
Alireza Akhondi MP: Swedish Parliamentarian and President of the House of Liberty.
David Lega, former MEP: Senior Advisor on Advocacy, EJA.
Dr. Wayne Carroll: Specialist in economic sanctions policy.
Ojan Bahadori: Expert in sanctions compliance and enforcement.
Siamak Javadi: Professor of Finance at the University of Texas and expert on the Iranian economy.

The Stakes for Europe

The Iran-Russia alliance is more than a tactical partnership; it represents a strategic threat to Europe’s security and its commitment to upholding global stability. Their shared efforts to circumvent sanctions empower authoritarian regimes, embolden aggression, and prolong instability across critical regions.

HOL President Alireza Akhondi MP emphasized:

“The Iran-Russia partnership poses an unprecedented challenge to global stability and democratic values. By reinforcing sanctions, the EU can disrupt their efforts, weaken authoritarian regimes, and safeguard the principles that underpin Europe’s security.”

Confronting Disinformation and Mismanagement

HOL’s critical review of How Sanctions Work: Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare challenges narratives that misrepresent sanctions as harmful to ordinary Iranians. Instead, HOL highlights the true cause of the nation’s suffering: the Iranian regime’s corruption, repression, and economic mismanagement. The conference will expose these realities and counter efforts to manipulate Western narratives about sanctions.

Why This Event Matters Now

With nuclear tensions rising and the Iran-Russia partnership growing bolder, Europe must act decisively to address this threat. The insights and strategies shared at this conference will shape the EU’s next steps toward a stronger, more unified sanctions regime to protect democratic values and global security.