Maryam Rajavi Addresses Free Iran 2025 Conference: A Call for Democratic Change in Iran

During her address at the Free Iran 2025 Conference, attended by European and Canadian dignitaries and representatives, Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), emphasized the grave threat posed by the ruling regime in Iran. She asserted that the theocratic government has taken the Iranian people’s freedom, regional peace, and global security hostage.

Mrs. Rajavi warmly welcomed the participants from the UK, Ireland, Canada, the Netherlands, Malta, Switzerland, Portugal, and Romania. She acknowledged the pivotal role these parliamentarians and their colleagues across Europe and North America have played in supporting the cause of democratic transformation in Iran.

Reflecting on four decades of global engagement with Iran, Mrs. Rajavi criticized Western policies of appeasement toward the regime. She contended that these policies, driven by economic interests, undermined values such as human rights and resistance to terrorism, thereby impeding the prospect of real change in Iran. She praised those who chose to support the Iranian people and Resistance, stating that history had proven their stance to be correct.

Mrs. Rajavi then outlined several undeniable realities about the regime:

• It is the epicenter of terrorism and regional aggression.

• It relies on executions, torture, and the repression of women to maintain control.

• It will not abandon its nuclear ambitions or regional warmongering.

• Its external terrorism serves as a tool of intimidation and blackmail.

She referenced recent incidents in London and the Netherlands as evidence of the regime’s persistent international terrorist activities, including plots orchestrated by the IRGC and attacks targeting opposition figures.

Rajavi stressed that diplomatic negotiations, especially around the nuclear issue, are futile. She argued that the regime uses such talks to buy time, reduce sanctions pressure, and forestall domestic unrest. According to her, the only viable solution is the overthrow of the regime by the Iranian people and their organized Resistance.

She highlighted the NCRI, led by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), as a democratic alternative equipped with a clear and progressive platform. This movement, now in its 60th year, has made significant sacrifices in its struggle against both monarchic and theocratic dictatorships. Its extensive network of supporters and Resistance Units inside Iran plays a vital role in undermining the regime’s stability.

Mrs. Rajavi cited a recent revelation by the Resistance exposing a secret nuclear site in Semnan Province, a discovery that provoked panic among the regime’s leadership. She recalled earlier disclosures in 2002, which brought global attention to clandestine nuclear facilities in Natanz and Arak.

Speech at the #FreeIran2025 Conference – Onward to a Democratic Republic
‌560 British lawmakers, including the majority of 230 members of the House of Commons and 330 members of the House of Lords signed a joint statement. Their representatives participated in today’s conference… pic.twitter.com/x8ZMCYZZIF

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 17, 2025

According to Mrs. Rajavi, the MEK’s presence in uprisings and its operational role on the ground mark it as the central force in the fight for regime change. The Resistance Units, particularly among Iran’s youth, continue to defy the regime through acts of civil disobedience and sabotage.

She presented the NCRI’s vision for a future Iran: a democratic republic founded on the separation of religion and state, gender equality, ethnic autonomy, abolition of the death penalty, and a non-nuclear stance. This plan, Mrs. Rajavi asserted, is backed by the immense sacrifices of Resistance members—over 100,000 of whom have been killed in the struggle.

Despite increased executions under Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency and the brutal repression of MEK members, Mrs. Rajavi expressed confidence in the movement’s ultimate success, fueled by their dedication to freedom and justice.

Mrs. Rajavi also pointed to broad international support, including a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and recent endorsements from lawmakers in the UK, Ireland, Malta, and Switzerland. These gestures, she said, reflect a profound understanding of the Iranian crisis and a rejection of Tehran’s efforts to demonize the Resistance.

Concluding her remarks, Mrs. Rajavi urged European nations to take decisive steps:

• Designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

• Activate the snapback mechanism under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to restore sanctions.

• Recognize the legitimacy of the Iranian people’s Resistance against the IRGC.

She expressed her gratitude for the international support and reiterated that the NCRI’s vision for freedom and democracy also advances peace and security on a global scale.