Free and Democratic Iran

Last year, the Iranian-American communities in the U.S. held a conference in New York. A number of political dignitaries from the United States and Europe attended and addressed the conference called, “The Path to Freedom – The Alternative.” In a video message to this meeting, Maryam Rajavi elaborated on the rapid developments in Iran, with the looming prospect of a secular country free from religious tyranny. Here is what the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) President-elect had to say:

Distinguished personalities and Members of Iranian communities in the United States,
You have organized a gathering that glows with unyielding resolve to secure a free Iran. Such gatherings around the world, added to the popular base of this resistance in Iran, in and of themselves manifest the roadmap for freedom and democracy in Iran.

Today, I would like to briefly talk about the path to freedom and the Iranian Resistance's platform for the future of Iran.
Accelerating developments in Iran enhance the prospects of an Iran free of religious tyranny. Since the uprising of December 2017, Iranian society has essentially not stopped marching and protesting. In August, at least 27 cities in Iran rose up once again. The regime arrested over 1,000 protestors but failed to stop the protest movements across Iran. As the Iranian Resistance’s leader Massoud Rajavi has said: "This is an uprising until overthrow and until victory. ... It will persist, it will spread, and it will deepen. It is linked with and relies on, the organized resistance. And the inhuman enemy has no solutions or options to escape from it."

Today, the ruling mullahs’ fear is amplified by the role of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) and resistance units in leading and continuing the uprisings. Regime analysts say: "The definitive element in relation to the December 2017 riots is the organization of rioters. So-called Units of Rebellion have been created, which have both the ability to increase their forces and the potential to replace leaders on the spot."

The roadmap for freedom reveals itself in these very uprisings, in ceaseless protests, and in the struggle of the Resistance Units.
At the same time, the regime is surrounded - politically and internationally, and in economic terms, it is on the brink of collapse. Over the past 12 months, the national currency has lost two-thirds of its value. Today, the regime has reached a point where its factions publicly threaten their president with physical elimination.

I want to stress the path we have chosen and the horizon ahead of us as we strive to reach the Iranian people's grand destination.

We seek popular sovereignty. We are fighting for the establishment of a republic based on the vote of the people. We consider the people's free vote to be the sole criterion of legitimacy for national officials.

We stress human rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in accordance with conventions adopted by the United Nations.