FEMO at the University of Lyon
On 1 February 2017, a conference was held at Jean Moulin University in Lyon, organised at the initiative of the Cercle Convergence in collaboration with FEMO, on the theme: “Iran, Domestic and Regional Perspectives.”
Iran’s domestic economic, political and social situation following the nuclear agreement, the recent death of one of the regime’s pillars (Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani), and the approaching presidential election in May made it possible to consider the consequences of Iranian interference in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Several prominent figures spoke at the conference.
François Colcombet, President of FEMO (Foundation for Middle East Studies), a magistrate, former judge at the Court of Cassation, former member of parliament and co-founder of the Syndicat de la Magistrature, who had in fact previously served in Lyon. François Colcombet gave an overview of the contemporary origins of the Islamic Republic, while discussing the rigid shell of this theocracy that prevents it from reforming.
Struan Stevenson, former Member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999–2014). He served as chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Iraq (2009–2014) and discussed Iranian interference in Iraq and Syria, arguing that the nuclear agreement had not helped moderate the Iranian regime’s attitude in the region.
He also presented his book, published in English and translated into French under the title “The Price of Freedom,” devoted to his experience in Iraq but above all to his discovery of the Iranian opposition.
Nader Nouri, Secretary General of FEMO (Foundation for Middle East Studies) and a former Iranian diplomat posted in Paris, addressed the Revolutionary Guards Corps’ grip on the Iranian economy. He explained the reasons for and history of this dominance and concluded that the Revolutionary Guards are today involved in most of the contracts signed between Western companies and their Iranian counterparts, which will create serious problems for these contracts in the future.
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