It was 5 a.m. and I could not sleep the night before worrying a bit too much about my presentation at the Washington Institute. I knew if there was ever an audience that could make a difference for the Iranian people, this was it. I had to be at my best. I had to get my message across that people of Iran wanted change and without the help of the West, they would not succeed.

At 6 a.m., I got an email from Fox News radio. It was for an interview. Arrangements were made and I did the interview, making sure to be ready and on time for the big event.

My body guard picked me up and we headed toward the Institute. They arranged a special spot for us to park close to the elevator, as requested by my bodyguard. Someone was waiting for us at the elevator and I was escorted upstairs, through a hallway and into a room.

My voice modulator was set up in the main room where over 100 guests were to be seated along with many more from the media. Two FBI officers made a request to see me. My bodyguard checked their IDs, and asked for my permission to let them in. Very nice guys! The conversation was very lively and we were all excited to be meeting and engaged in the exchange. They said it was okay that I criticized the FBI’s lack of knowledge in my book. We all shared a laugh.

The time arrived to be led into the main room; my hosts in front of me and my bodyguard right by my side. We walked a long hallway before entering the room from a back door as planned. This was my first time seeing the guests: the room was packed, the cameras set.

My hosts, Michael Eisenstadt and David Crist went first, speaking highly of me. I blushed and wondered if I was worthy of such words or the event. They introduced me and, amid the applause of the audience, I walked up to the podium, my heart started beating faster. I knew many important figures were there but not specifically who they were. I had not seen the list of guests. I kept telling myself: This is for Iran; This is for all those in prison awaiting execution; This is for all those who lost their lives; This is for justice, and so I began.

I grew more confident as the session went on and by the time we got into the Q&A segment, I was on top of my game:

“Please stop dreaming. You will not be able to bring about a change in the behavior of the Iranian leaders. This is a fantasy…

“You cannot evaluate them through a rational mind, through logic…

“Not being able to think outside the box and not understanding the philosophy of the fanatic mullahs is the reason for your policy failures of over three decades…

“This is while Iranian people have paid dearly trying to get their voice out … that they resent this brutal regime … that they want change.

“It is our duty to help them. We need to abide by our principles of freedom and democracy. We need to remain that guiding light for all freedom-loving people around the world…

“Every time we call Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, every time we negotiate, send letters, flowers, cake, we betray our principles and the Iranian people…

“Stop dreaming. For if you allow the Iranian leaders to obtain the nuclear bomb, it won’t only destroy Iran, it will also destroy the world…

“We need to take immediate action as our options are becoming increasingly limited, all because of our past vacillation.

“We need to have our European allies cut all diplomatic ties, cut all shipping lines, air space access. We need to put extreme pressure on this regime…

“We need to call out evil and, at the same time, let the Iranian people know that we will help them with their aspirations of freedom…

“If you do these things, you will see that the regime will fall…

“However, if you choose war, please do not bomb Iran’s infrastructure. Do not hurt the people. They have suffered enough. Don’t destroy Iran and Iranians, for they are your best friends and if war must be, all you need to do is take out the Guards, people will do the rest…”

When I got back to my room, I looked at the list of guests and am happy I did not see it before:

Counselors & others from Embassy of Germany, Israel, Sudan, Jordan, Switzerland, Turkey, New Zealand, Spain. Reporters from Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, BBC, Fox, CBS, Tokyo Kyodo News, Turkiye Daily, Al Arabiya, Foreign Policy Magazine, Jerusalem Post, ProPublica Washington, NewsMax, PBS News Hour, Hurriyet … and important figures from Homeland Security, Dept of Treasury, Dept of State, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Defense, Dept. of Justice, Office of the Secretary of Defense, FBI, U.S. Navy, Brigadier General from Joint Chief’s Staff, Potomac Institute for Policies Studies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, National Endowment for Democracy, Jewish Institute for National Studies, Middle East Institute, Combating Terrorism Center, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, White House Office of National Drug Policy, AIPAC, London Potomac Consulting, Congressional Research Service, American Jewish Committee, American Turkish Council, Egypt DOD, IMF, National Defense University, New America Foundation, U.S. European Command…

The Event:

http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC07.php?CID=535

Listen to the audio:

http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/audio/audio_popup.php?id=535&table=tblEvents