Thousands of Iranian dissidents and supporters gathered in Paris on February 8, demanding the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. The rally, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), saw participants from across Europe calling on world leaders to increase pressure on Tehran’s ruling clerics. The protest, which was covered by international media outlets such as Barron’s, Just the News, and Asharq Al-Awsat, coincided with the 46th anniversary of the 1979 revolution and underscored mounting discontent with Iran’s leadership.
Calls for a New Revolution
Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s president-elect, addressed the demonstrators, emphasizing that Iran’s crisis extends beyond economic struggles. She stated that the Iranian people have endured “46 years of rule under a brutal and corrupt religious dictatorship.” Rajavi called for “another revolution” to dismantle the regime, which she characterized as one of “executions and massacre.”
She highlighted the widespread protests and strikes across Iran, involving workers, nurses, teachers, and retirees, as evidence of growing unrest. “The solution is clear—another revolution,” she declared, urging the international community to stand with the Iranian people rather than appease the regime. Just the News reported on Rajavi’s speech, highlighting her call for an uprising to overthrow the Iranian government.
International Pressure and the Future of Iran
The event featured high-profile speakers, including former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and former Syrian rebel leader Riad al-Asaad. Verhofstadt criticized the West’s past approach to Iran, arguing that the “strategy of complacency has to change.” He expressed optimism that the current U.S. administration’s policies would be less accommodating to Tehran. Barron’s covered this aspect of the rally, emphasizing the speakers’ calls for a more assertive stance against Iran.
Many demonstrators expressed hope that increased international pressure, particularly from the U.S., could hasten the regime’s downfall. The protest coincided with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s recent warning against negotiating with the U.S., reflecting internal divisions within Iran’s leadership.
Despite criticism of the NCRI’s support base within Iran, the group remains a formidable opposition force capable of mobilizing large-scale demonstrations. Exiled Iranian activists dismissed concerns over its credibility, emphasizing the movement’s commitment to achieving democracy without external intervention.
With growing unrest inside Iran and persistent calls for regime change from the diaspora, the Paris rally, widely reported by Barron’s, Just the News, and Asharq Al-Awsat, underscored the resilience of the Iranian opposition.
