On January 11, 2025, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held an important conference in Paris, France, titled “New Policy toward the Iranian Regime.” Distinguished political and military figures from around the globe gathered to discuss prospects for freedom in Iran and peace in the region.

In her keynote speech, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, emphasized that the overthrow of the ruling theocracy is the only viable path to achieving these goals. She outlined the key factors contributing to the regime’s crises and highlighted the growing strength of the Iranian Resistance.

Mrs. Rajavi also called for international recognition of the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy and urged Western governments to adopt a firm policy against the Iranian regime. Her speech underscored the critical role of organized resistance and the significance of this moment in Iran’s history.

Conference: on a “New Policy toward the Iranian Regime” with Distinguished Political and Military Figures#FreeIran2025 #FreeIran10PointPlan pic.twitter.com/SrMPPyfAiL

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 11, 2025

The full text of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s speech is presented below:

Maryam Rajavi: The Overthrow of the ruling theocracy is the only path to freedom in Iran and peace in the region

We are happy that PMOI members at Ashraf 3 are joining us today in this conference. We welcome them.

Honorable dignitaries,
Distinguished guests,

I am very pleased to see you. Your presence at the home of the Iranian Resistance sends a powerful message of solidarity to millions of Iranians who seek the overthrow of the religious dictatorship.

The regime’s leader, in one of his recent speech, threatened the people of Iran, saying that if they create unrest, they will be crushed. This is an admission by Khamenei that Iranian society is ready to rise and overthrow the regime.

Conference Iran: On a “New Policy toward the Iranian Regime”
The Overthrow of the ruling theocracy is the only path to freedom in #Iran and peace in the region
Today, the balance of power in the region has shifted against the regime. With the fall of Bashar Assad, the regime’s… pic.twitter.com/CXHc6vn7fw

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 11, 2025

Factors Contributing to the Clerical Regime’s Crisis

Three key factors have shaped this situation: First, harsh suppression, economic bankruptcy, deep social crises, and widespread government corruption have brought society to the brink of explosion. The 90% boycott of the two elections in 2024 demonstrated that the regime lacks any social base in Iran.
The second factor is the regime’s defeats in the region, including Hezbollah suffering a crushing blow, and the overthrow of Syria’s dictatorship, the regime’s most important ally. And third, the expansion of the organized resistance, which is preparing for an uprising and the overthrow of the regime.

Allow me to share a few points regarding recent developments:

First, the religious dictatorship had extended its influence through Syria and Iraq to the Mediterranean Sea and Lebanon. With this strategy, Khamenei created a protective shield for the regime and a tool for blackmail.

Second, for many years, Khamenei balanced the regime’s internal weaknesses by relying on Hezbollah and Syria, as a show of power in the region.

Third, it is often wrongly said that the Syrian army collapsed in 11 days. In reality, this army had disintegrated many years ago. According to IRGC officials, even back then, Bashar Assad had no hope of remaining in power. Indeed, it was Khamenei who ordered the IRGC and Hezbollah to use brutal force to keep him in power.

But this time was different. Neither Hezbollah nor the IRGC could withstand the pressure. They chose to escape rather than fight.

Fourth, the fall of the Syrian dictatorship and the closing of land and air corridors used to support the regime’s forces in Lebanon have significantly reduced its capacity for warmongering and terrorism in the region.

Fifth, today, the balance of power in the region has shifted against the regime. The foundation of the mullahs’ blackmail diplomacy on the international stage and their efforts to preserve the policy of appeasement have largely decreased.

Before, the regime and its lobbyists promoted its strength and stability. Today, such claims have been proven false entirely.

Sixth, most importantly is the impact of this development inside of Iran. With the fall of Bashar Assad, everyone witnessed the collapse of the regime’s forces in Syria. They saw how weak and fragile the IRGC is. Khamenei’s efforts to suppress the uprisings by starting a war in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, completely failed.

This development has sparked new energy for the uprisings inside Iran. Iranian society is increasingly enraged over the spending of tens of billions of dollars of its assets by the Iranian regime to maintain the Syrian dictatorship.

The regime’s suppressive institutions are deeply terrified. They have ordered security forces to prevent protests and have intensified repression and executions. In 2024, the regime broke its own record of brutality by carrying out at least 1,000 executions.

Two weeks after the fall of the Syrian dictatorship, the regime’s Chief Justice ordered the “Prosecutor General and prosecutors nationwide” to “collaborate directly with intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies and take all necessary measures… to neutralize the enemy’s plot to create unrest within the country.”

This is a reaction to the Iranian people’s determination to end the mullahs’ regime whose end is certainly near.

The Fall of Assad’s Dictatorship and the Prospect of the Mullahs’ Overthrow

Dear friends,
With the fall of the Syrian dictatorship, now, our people see more clearly than ever that the overthrow of the Velayat-e Faqih regime is possible and within reach. They have trust in their own power and in the courage of the Resistance Units to bring down the regime.

The Resistance Units in Tehran and other cities, are advancing the great task of preparing for an organized uprising. Young men and women are increasingly joining the Units and are supported by the people. In this way, our society is progressing toward the formation of the great Army of Freedom.

Khamenei and his IRGC were unable to preserve the Syrian dictatorship, and they certainly cannot preserve their regime in the face of organized resistance and uprising. The regime will be overthrown.

Khamenei emboldens his IRGC and Basij forces to commit crimes against the Iranian people by providing them money and material resources. However, they are terrified when confronted by an organized resistance and the people’s uprising.

The anger of the Iranian people has reached new heights. Extreme poverty, low wages, 40% inflation, rising prices, and lack of water and electricity have pushed everyone to the edge.

A Defining Moment in Iran’s History

The clerical regime is at impasse in every way. Therefore, it is trying to convince Western governments to continue their policy of appeasement.
Unfortunately, over the past three decades, when the regime was on the brink, Western governments sided with the mullahs.

One example was during the 2009 uprising, and another was during the 2022 uprising. It later became clear that on both occasions, U.S. envoys were negotiating with the regime.

Another significant example happened in 2003 when the United States consolidated the weapons of the National Liberation Army of Iran. It was a move that was welcomed by the mullahs’ regime.

This policy led to the spread of fundamentalism and warmongering in the region, under Tehran’s direction. It also encouraged the mullahs to pursue their nuclear weapons program.

Today, another decisive moment in the history of Iran has arrived. The Iranian people are prepared to overthrow the regime.
As I stated on December 11 during a briefing at the U.S. Senate, the overthrow of this regime is within reach, and the Iranian Resistance has all the requirements to transfer power to the people when the regime is overthrown.

The Overthrow of the Mullahs, the Sole Path to Freedom in Iran and Peace in the Region

Now, an explosive society and protest movements with the Resistance Units at their core, are preparing for an uprising. There exists an organized resistance, with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), and its thousands of experienced members at the heart of this movement. Ashraf 3 is one of its centers.
There is also a democratic alternative: the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the most enduring political coalition in Iran’s history, which clearly distinguishes itself from both the monarchy and the mullahs.

This resistance has a clear program for tomorrow’s free Iran; it advocates for freedoms and equal rights for women, autonomy for Iran’s nationalities, equality between Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as other religions, the separation of religion and state, the abolition of the death penalty and a non-nuclear Iran that will always defend peace in the Middle East.

According to the NCRI’s program, after the overthrow of the regime, a transitional government will be formed for a maximum of six months. Its main task will be to hold free elections for a Constituent Assembly and transfer power to the people’s representatives.
It is time for Western governments to abandon past policies and stand with the Iranian people this time.

We call on them to recognize the Iranian people’s struggle for the overthrow of the regime and the battle of the rebellious youth against the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

I must emphasize that the recognition of the Iranian Resistance and Resistance Units’ struggle is a necessary part of a firm policy against the mullahs’ regime.
The overthrow of the mullahs’ regime is the only way to establish freedom in Iran and peace and tranquility in the region.

Thank you all very much.