Thousands Gather in U.S. Capital to Support Iran’s Democratic Future
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of Iranians joined prominent American political figures in the U.S. capital on May 16, 2026, for the Washington Free Iran Rally, delivering a forceful message of solidarity with pro-democracy activists inside Iran.
Held against the backdrop of escalating repression and political executions in Iran, the demonstration underscored mounting pressure on the ruling clerical establishment. Speakers condemned the regime’s intensified use of executions and state violence while rejecting both religious authoritarianism and any revival of monarchical rule. Throughout the event, participants pointed to Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a comprehensive framework for establishing a secular, democratic republic in Iran.
Maryam Rajavi: “The Regime Has Entered a Terminal Deadlock”
In a live address to the rally, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stated that peace and stability in the Middle East remain impossible without the complete overthrow of the Velayat-e Faqih dictatorship.
She described the regime as being trapped in a historic impasse following nationwide uprisings and the January 2026 massacres, forcing authorities to rely on internet blackouts, arbitrary street crackdowns, and mass executions of political prisoners to contain dissent.
Mrs. Rajavi honored eight PMOI/MEK members and seventeen rebellious protesters recently executed, highlighting the final words of Vahid Bani-Amerian:
“Rest assured, if you execute me and those like me, we shall only multiply.”
She said the continued operations of Resistance Units, including a recent large-scale assault by 250 MEK freedom fighters on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s headquarters, demonstrated that the regime had failed to stop the coming uprising.
Condemning both Western appeasement and monarchist efforts to restore authoritarian rule, she described these forces as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” attempting to revive the SAVAK security apparatus.
Mrs. Rajavi concluded by calling on the international community to end diplomatic concessions, blacklist the IRGC, and recognize the Iranian people’s struggle for a democratic republic based on elections, pluralism, and gender equality.
Message to the demonstration by Iranians in Washington, D.C.
The people of Iran are marching toward a future defined by the ballot box—a future of pluralism, autonomy for our diverse ethnic nationalities, the equal participation of women in societal leadership, and the separation… pic.twitter.com/m9bIUCrQIO— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 16, 2026
Dr. Anahita Sami Highlights the Cost of Resistance
Dr. Anahita Sami, an immigration lawyer and prominent Iranian-American Community (OIAC) member, opened the rally by drawing attention to the sacrifices being made by young Iranians confronting repression.
She praised the courage of Resistance Units operating inside Iran and read aloud the names of executed political prisoners, including Pouya Ghabadi, Vahid Bani Amerian, and Babak Alipour.
Dr. Sami stressed that the regime’s dependence on executions had backfired, transforming every martyr into a symbol of renewed resistance. She emphasized that Iran’s younger generation rejects both the Shah and the mullahs, demanding a democratic republic rooted in secular governance and equality.
Ana Sami: Iran’s Resistance Units stand against tyranny. A generation refusing both Shah and Sheikh dictatorships, demanding a free, democratic Iran. #DCFreeIranRally #No2ShahNo2Mullahs https://t.co/sZ2H33itgo
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Patrick J. Kennedy Praises Democratic Leadership
Former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy praised Mrs. Rajavi’s leadership for preserving democratic principles despite decades of repression.
He noted that authoritarian governments do not execute engineers and intellectuals unless deeply fearful of organized resistance, citing the recent execution of veteran MEK member Abolhassan Montazer as evidence of regime panic.
Kennedy also highlighted coordinated Resistance Unit operations across 15 Iranian cities, describing them as proof of a disciplined and growing movement.
Referencing his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, he framed Iran’s democratic struggle as a universal fight for human dignity and freedom.
.@PJK4brainhealth: We should be grateful for @Maryam_Rajavi who masterfully leads this Resistance, despite her personal suffering, to make sure democracy, passion, & tolerance are at the order of the day in Iran's future.#DCFreeIranRally #NCRIAlternativehttps://t.co/yq6BuPYzAf
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Ambassador Carla Sands Rejects Appeasement
Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands criticized Western appeasement policies, arguing they had sought to sideline organized resistance while protecting the ruling clerical establishment.
She said the NCRI’s existence disproves the false notion that the world must choose between dictatorship and chaos.
Ambassador Sands recounted the final moments of six MEK prisoners who sang resistance songs moments before execution and strongly condemned monarchist groups glorifying the SAVAK era.
She reminded attendees that suppression of democratic opposition under the Shah enabled Khomeini’s rise in 1979 and urged Washington to formally recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the IRGC.
.@CarlaHSands: The Iranian Resistance is not abstract politics—it is a human story written with sacrifice and courage. From Washington DC, we stand with those demanding a free, democratic Iran. #DCFreeIranRally #NCRIAlternative https://t.co/26p5GMRMDV
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
General Wesley Clark Calls Resistance the Only Strategic Solution
Retired General Wesley K. Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, described the NCRI and MEK as the only organized force capable of preventing regional catastrophe.
Clark argued that military pressure alone cannot resolve Iran’s crisis, insisting that meaningful change must come through organized internal resistance.
He pointed to the January 26 protests, during which thousands were killed by state forces, as evidence that peaceful demonstrations alone cannot dismantle the regime.
He praised the MEK’s decades-long discipline and resilience in the face of infiltration and political pressure.
.@GeneralClark: I'm here today because I believe in a future Iran as a great nation and that PMOI and @Maryam_Rajavi can change the region and help prevent a global catastrophe. #DCFreeIranRally #NCRIAlternative https://t.co/ad5fonDKuk
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Hejar Berenji Advocates Decentralized Democracy
Representing the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI/KDPI), Hejar Berenji argued for a decentralized democratic future for Iran.
He condemned the regime’s simultaneous use of diplomacy abroad and repression at home, insisting that reform is impossible and total regime change is the only viable path.
Declaring, “No dictatorship with turban, no dictatorship with crown,” he emphasized the importance of recognizing the rights of Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, Azeris, and other marginalized communities in a future federal structure.
PDKI Representative to the US @Hejar_Berenji: This regime cannot be reformed or trusted; the only solution is toppling the Islamic Republic. Real unity begins with justice & recognition of the rights of Kurds and all marginalized nations. #DCFreeIranRally https://t.co/wyKI1yliod
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Rudy Giuliani Warns Against Nuclear Appeasement
In a special broadcast message, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the regime’s collapse is a matter of “when, not if.”
He described Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a constitutional roadmap for post-regime transition and warned that the clerical establishment’s ideological extremism makes nuclear containment impossible.
Drawing comparisons to Cold War strategy, Giuliani stressed that Iran’s rulers cannot be treated as rational geopolitical actors.
I was honored to address the thousands of anti-Iranian Regime demonstrators in Waahington, D.C. today.
They called for the end of politically-motivated executions, and for a free, Democratic Iran.
The group also endorsed Maryam Rajavi's Ten Point Plan for the Future of Iran. pic.twitter.com/LVkGN72933
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) May 16, 2026
Youth Voices Demand a New Republic
Biology student Kimia Arya spoke on behalf of Iran’s younger generation, praising women who confronted IRGC violence during January’s protests.
She said Iranian women had shattered the culture of fear under Maryam Rajavi’s leadership and insisted the current execution campaign reflects regime weakness, not strength.
Arya declared that Iran’s youth will accept nothing less than a republic free from both religious and monarchical dictatorship.
Kimia Arya, Biology Student at the University of Houston: Across Iran, a new force has risen—a fearless generation of young men & women in the #ResistanceUnits who risk everything because they believe the only path to freedom is through courage, uprising, & the overthrow of this…
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Ali Ziaie, a former Canadian Wushu champion and NYU political science graduate, reflected on growing up in a family shaped by political imprisonment.
He said every execution proves the regime has lost control of Iran’s future and warned against attempts to exploit decades of sacrifice to revive monarchy.
He called for international recognition of the Ten-Point Plan as the only credible democratic vision for Iran.
Ali Ziaie: Growing up in Iran, even mentioning the PMOI could mean execution. Today, I admire the #ResistanceUnits. Every execution shows the regime is losing control and cannot silence the demand for freedom. #StopExecutionsInIran https://t.co/XCYN2gzjbC
— Iran Freedom (@4FreedominIran) May 16, 2026
Bishop Angel L. Nuñez Calls for Humanitarian Solidarity
Closing the rally, Bishop Dr. Angel L. Nuñez addressed the gathering on behalf of Hispanic and Christian communities.
He described internet shutdowns and rising executions as signs of desperation and said the Iranian struggle transcends politics, representing a universal humanitarian cause.
Dr. Nuñez called for an immediate end to executions and expressed confidence that a democratic republic would emerge through the determination of the Iranian people.
