As the Iranian regime’s president addresses the United Nations in New York, it is crucial for the international community to reflect on the significant implications of a pivotal moment in my nation’s history. The anniversary of an uprising triggered by a brutal regime murder serves as a reminder.
During the past year, the political landscape in Iran has undergone profound changes.
The regime is gripped by panic as it anticipates impending protests, while the organized opposition gains momentum.
A recalibration of the international approach toward this volatile regime is necessary. Instead of appeasing and assisting those responsible for the oppression of the Iranian people, the world should take a different stance.
The tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a victim of the regime’s “morality police,” sparked the uprising in September 2022.
What started as embers of anger quickly transformed into a sweeping blaze of protest against the entire theocracy, engulfing more than 220 cities across all 31 provinces.
Women emerged as the undaunted leaders of the uprising, demonstrating the Iranian people’s deep-seated yearnings for freedom.
The protests resounded with an unequivocal rejection of both monarchy and theocracy, as the cries of “Down with the oppressor, be it the shah or the supreme leader” echoed throughout.
The leading opposition movement, Mujahedin-e Khalq, has published the identities of at least 750 protesters killed by the regime.
Women have consistently led the battle against the regime’s brutality and oppression for the past four decades.
This uprising has intensified internal divisions at the highest levels and created a palpable fear of the future, leading to a decline in the regime’s ranks.
Tehran’s worst nightmare is the resurgence of mass protests that would be even more potent and powerful.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei orchestrated Ebrahim Raisi’s ascent to the presidency in an attempt to forge a more unified regime and prevent mass protests from reoccurring, as they did in 2018 and 2019.
However, the 2022 uprising shattered this semblance of regime cohesion, forcing a reassessment of its strategy.
Raisi’s recent “purification wave,” resulting in the expulsion of numerous university professors, further illustrates the regime’s profound anxieties, particularly regarding universities as bastions of resistance against dictators.
The regime has now embarked on another sweeping purge, even reaching high-ranking officials like Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brig. Gen. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who was once a close confidant of Khamenei.
The waves of popular discontent undeniably demonstrate the regime’s failure to fortify internal cohesion and its inability to prevent uprisings.
As a result, Khamenei has intensified repression, with more than 500 executions recorded by international human rights organizations since January 2023.
While these tactics may temporarily increase intimidation, they will ultimately fuel dissent in the long run.
Resistance Units inside Iran play a crucial role in organizing and mobilizing a passionate population.
Despite the disappearance, apprehension, or killing of at least 3,600 unit members, Resistance Units continue to proliferate across Iran.
These brave young individuals operate covertly, facing constant threats of imprisonment, torture, and death, serving as the backbone of the Iranian protest movement.
The Iranian people’s aspirations go beyond mere cosmetic alterations to dress codes.
Their ultimate goal is to overthrow the oppressive regime and establish a genuine democratic republic, free from the shackles of both the shah’s dictatorship and the mullahs’ theocratic rule.
Democratic change in Iran has transformed from speculation into an undeniable reality.
The unwavering determination of the people, coupled with growing unrest within the regime, makes the current status quo untenable.
A resolute and unwavering Western policy toward the Iranian regime is no longer just a prudent exercise; it has become imperative.
Tehran’s theocracy is at its weakest point, desperately seeking appeasement and diplomatic maneuvering, which it unfortunately receives.
Unfreezing billions of dollars of Iranian people’s money and giving it to the regime is a gift to Khamenei and his Revolutionary Guards, enabling suppression, war, and terrorism.
The international community has a moral obligation to stand with the Iranian people, who have made immense sacrifices in their relentless pursuit of freedom.
We are not asking for assistance in overthrowing the regime. We simply request that Western governments stop providing aid to these murderers.
Through this, we can work towards building a peaceful future based on the ideals of a secular, democratic, and non-nuclear republic.
Maryam Rajavi is the president-elect of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran.
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