{"id":80806,"date":"2025-11-19T08:35:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T07:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?p=80806"},"modified":"2025-11-20T16:00:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T15:00:53","slug":"former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","title":{"rendered":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands \u2013 Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC \u2013 Nov 15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
At the Free Iran Convention 2025<\/a>, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands delivered a powerful address declaring that the Iranian people have already chosen their democratic alternative in the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI<\/a>). She praised Maryam Rajavi<\/a>\u2019s leadership, describing the NCRI<\/a> as a genuine \u201cgovernment in waiting\u201d that has been strengthened\u2014rather than defeated\u2014by decades of imprisonment, executions, terrorism, and exile.<\/p>\n
Sands condemned the regime\u2019s escalating repression, including the execution of young protesters, and noted that renewed international pressure\u2014particularly the activation of the snapback mechanism restoring UN sanctions\u2014has further isolated Tehran. She argued that the regime\u2019s relentless demonization of the NCRI and MEK<\/a> exposes its deepest fear: a cohesive movement with a clear political program, capable leadership, and Resistance Units already preparing for political transition.<\/p>\n
$\"\"$
Ambassador Carla Sands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Rejecting any return to past dictatorships\u2014clerical or monarchical<\/a>\u2014Sands declared that the Iranian people \u201cwill not trade a turban for a crown,\u201d insisting that true legitimacy comes from sacrifice and struggle, not inherited power or nostalgia. She emphasized the leading role of women within the Resistance and affirmed that the NCRI\u2019s Ten-Point Plan<\/a> presents a credible path toward a democratic, secular, non-nuclear republic.<\/p>\n
She concluded by urging democratic governments to recognize the Iranian people\u2019s right to overthrow the regime, hold Iranian authorities accountable for crimes against humanity, and acknowledge the NCRI as the legitimate representative of the Iranian people\u2019s aspirations.<\/p>\n
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"1739\"><strong><em>The full text of Ambassador Carla Sands\u2019 speech follows:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"Amb. Carla Sands speaks at the Free Iran Convention 2025 - Washington, DC - Nov 15, 2025\">\n<div id=\"WYL_LjMFonP0rd4\" class=\"lyte lP\">\n<div>Madam President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/maryam-rajavi\/\" rel=\"\">Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, your leadership continues to guide this movement. I am honored to speak here today with you. Thank you so much and God bless you.<\/div>\n<div id=\"lyte_LjMFonP0rd4\" class=\"pL\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FLjMFonP0rd4%2Fhqdefault.jpg\">\n<div class=\"tC\">\n<p>Distinguished guests, activists, members of the Iranian American community, and all those joining us today online. It\u2019s a privilege to be with you at this truly historic gathering. This isn\u2019t just a convention. This is the demonstration of a political reality that the Iranian people not only reject dictatorship but already have a democratic alternative capable of replacing it.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve stood with this movement before in front of the United Nations in New York, and earlier this year in Rome, where I spoke on a panel at the International Free Iran Summit 2025. A summit where Mrs. Maryam Rajavi delivered the keynote address.<\/p>\n<p>And I say this with full confidence: The National Council of Resistance of Iran is not a theory. It is not an opposition on paper. It is a government in waiting, backed by a movement that has survived prison, executions, terrorism, and exile, and yet stands stronger than ever.<\/p>\n<p>We just heard the battle cry for this movement in the beautiful music just played. We are no longer in the phase of asking if this regime will change. No, the regime is losing control. We are now in the phase of highlighting the force for change and determining who is prepared to lead the nation when it does.<\/p>\n<p>Inside Iran, the regime is hanging young protesters. It\u2019s executing political prisoners and launching new waves of repression, not from strength, but from fear. And now for the first time in years, the international pressure is returning as well.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-80816\" src=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"586\" onerror=\"this.src='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';this.srcset='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The snapback mechanism has been activated, restoring UN sanctions that the regime thought it had escaped. Tehran is once again cornered, economically, politically, and diplomatically. The walls are closing in, not because of foreign armies, but because of the courage of the Iranian people and the persistence of the Iranian Resistance that never surrendered.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian regime spends tremendous time and energy demonizing one force above all others: the NCRI and the <a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/about-iranian-opposition-pmoi-mek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MEK<\/a>. It doesn\u2019t fear exiled monarchs. It doesn\u2019t fear lobbyists. It does not fear those waiting for change to happen.<\/p>\n<p>It fears the <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/peoples-mojahedin-pmoi-mek-iran\/\" rel=\"\">MEK<\/a>, because this movement is organized. It has leadership. It has structure. It has a clear political program, and it has Resistance Units within Iran who are focused on confronting the Revolutionary Guards and repressive forces, and they\u2019re already preparing for a transition of power.<\/p>\n<p>A regime does not wage a disinformation campaign against an idea. It only fears what it sees as an existential threat. And that threat is this movement, the movement gathered right here in this room.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s all of you. And let me speak plainly about what the world must stop pretending. There\u2019s no path forward for Iran through some form of dictatorship. Neither is maintaining part of the current theocracy or the restoration of the monarchy.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian people rejected dictatorship 46 years ago under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/society\/who-was-mohammad-reza-pahlavi-shah-irans-last-pahlavi-dictator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shah<\/a>, and they\u2019re not going back. That chapter of history is closed. Iran will not trade a turban for a crown.<\/p>\n<p>The real alternative doesn\u2019t come from nostalgia, foreign influence, or from inherited titles. A real alternative comes from sacrifice, from struggle, and from the legitimacy earned in the streets, in the prisons, and in the hearts of the people. And that alternative is the National Council of Resistance of Iran.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve met Mrs. Maryam Rajavi multiple times. I\u2019ve asked her questions. I\u2019ve listened to her vision, and I\u2019ve seen her leadership. And although I haven\u2019t yet visited <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/articles\/2019\/08\/ashraf-3-home-to-iranian-opposition-group-mek-in-albania\/12507\/\" rel=\"\">Ashraf 3<\/a>, personally, I\u2019ve studied what\u2019s been built there, and I know what it represents: a living example of what the Iranian Resistance is capable of when it is free from the regime\u2019s violence. Like Ashraf 3, the future of Iran is pluralistic, it\u2019s modern, and it\u2019s rooted in universal values.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-80817\" src=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"535\" onerror=\"this.src='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';this.srcset='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands--300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands--768x411.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the defining features of this movement, and one that terrifies the mullahs, is the central role of women. Not as symbols, not as supporters, but as leaders. The only revolution in the Middle East led by women is the Iranian Resistance. In a regime built on gender oppression, the alternative is led by women and powered by thousands of women, who command Resistance Units, political offices, and international campaigns. History will record this fact: when Iran rises, it will rise under the leadership of its daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Look around this room. This isn\u2019t theory. This is not exiled nostalgia. This is political capacity. This movement has everything it needs: the brightest people, utmost commitment, the unmatched track record, and the visionary and viable leadership.<\/p>\n<p>More than 1,000 people, experts, scholars, organizers, doctors, former political prisoners, activists, and the young generation are united here behind this message: NCRI and Iran has an alternative that has both the capacity and the intent to bring change in Iran. NCRI has leadership. Iran now has leadership. NCRI has a plan. Iran has that plan: The Ten-Point Plan for a democratic, secular, non-nuclear republic.<\/p>\n<p>The NCRI has a plan for transition after the fall of the mullahs, leading to a representative government. And that is why today matters. Because you are not asking the world to invent a solution. You are showing that the solution already exists.<\/p>\n<p>To all of you, you are showing that Iran does not need foreign boots on the ground or an appropriation of money. You are the plan.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s long past time for democratic governments to recognize the right of the Iranian people to overthrow this regime. Hold Tehran accountable for the crimes against humanity. To stop legitimizing the regime through giving them concessions. And acknowledge that the NCRI is the legitimate representative of the Iranian people\u2019s struggle for freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Appeasement has failed. Reform is impossible. The only path to stability in Iran and in the region is the victory of the Iranian people and their organized resistance in ending the rule of theocracy in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>So let us say clearly and confidently, no to dictatorship, no turban, no crown. Yes to a democratic Republic. Yes to the leadership of women in future Iran. Yes to the Resistance Units within Iran who are risking everything. Yes to the people of Iran who are closer to victory than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>And to those fighting in the prisons in Iran, in the streets, and in the resistance centers across the world, I say, we see you. We honor you, and we stand with you. Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Until Iran is free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u201cThe most important thing about the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreeIranConvention2025?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FreeIranConvention2025<\/a> is that people are behind this movement. This isn\u2019t the movement of the elites is about the people wanting freedom and democratically-elected leaders,\u201d Amb. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarlaHSands?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CarlaHSands<\/a> said in an exclusive interview with Simay Azadi. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dMkInQMobt\">pic.twitter.com\/dMkInQMobt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/en_simayazadi\/status\/1990069675842048114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":80814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3037,18,867,1,32],"tags":[3750,3913],"class_list":["post-80806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-iran-2025","category-supports","category-iranian-resistance","category-news","category-videos","tag-carla-sands","tag-free-iran-convention-2025"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"556\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\"},\"headline\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1468,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Carla Sands\",\"Free Iran Convention 2025\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Free Iran 2025\",\"International Supports\",\"Iranian Resistance\",\"News\",\"Videos\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\",\"name\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":556,\"caption\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands - Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC - Nov 15\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"description\":\"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy & Equality\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"width\":251,\"height\":78,\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/4FreedominIran\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/author\\\/iran-freedom2\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","og_description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","og_url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","og_site_name":"Iran Freedom","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","article_published_time":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":556,"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Iran Freedom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_site":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Iran Freedom","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"},"author":{"name":"Iran Freedom","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6"},"headline":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d","datePublished":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"},"wordCount":1468,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","keywords":["Carla Sands","Free Iran Convention 2025"],"articleSection":["Free Iran 2025","International Supports","Iranian Resistance","News","Videos"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","name":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","width":1000,"height":556,"caption":"Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands - Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC - Nov 15"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","name":"Iran Freedom","description":"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy & Equality","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization","name":"Iran Freedom","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","width":251,"height":78,"caption":"Iran Freedom"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6","name":"Iran Freedom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Iran Freedom"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2"],"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/author\/iran-freedom2\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80806"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80928,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806\/revisions\/80928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands \u2013 Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC \u2013 Nov 15<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
At the Free Iran Convention 2025<\/a>, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands delivered a powerful address declaring that the Iranian people have already chosen their democratic alternative in the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI<\/a>). She praised Maryam Rajavi<\/a>\u2019s leadership, describing the NCRI<\/a> as a genuine \u201cgovernment in waiting\u201d that has been strengthened\u2014rather than defeated\u2014by decades of imprisonment, executions, terrorism, and exile.<\/p>\n
Sands condemned the regime\u2019s escalating repression, including the execution of young protesters, and noted that renewed international pressure\u2014particularly the activation of the snapback mechanism restoring UN sanctions\u2014has further isolated Tehran. She argued that the regime\u2019s relentless demonization of the NCRI and MEK<\/a> exposes its deepest fear: a cohesive movement with a clear political program, capable leadership, and Resistance Units already preparing for political transition.<\/p>\n
$\"\"$
Ambassador Carla Sands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Rejecting any return to past dictatorships\u2014clerical or monarchical<\/a>\u2014Sands declared that the Iranian people \u201cwill not trade a turban for a crown,\u201d insisting that true legitimacy comes from sacrifice and struggle, not inherited power or nostalgia. She emphasized the leading role of women within the Resistance and affirmed that the NCRI\u2019s Ten-Point Plan<\/a> presents a credible path toward a democratic, secular, non-nuclear republic.<\/p>\n
She concluded by urging democratic governments to recognize the Iranian people\u2019s right to overthrow the regime, hold Iranian authorities accountable for crimes against humanity, and acknowledge the NCRI as the legitimate representative of the Iranian people\u2019s aspirations.<\/p>\n
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"1739\"><strong><em>The full text of Ambassador Carla Sands\u2019 speech follows:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"Amb. Carla Sands speaks at the Free Iran Convention 2025 - Washington, DC - Nov 15, 2025\">\n<div id=\"WYL_LjMFonP0rd4\" class=\"lyte lP\">\n<div>Madam President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/maryam-rajavi\/\" rel=\"\">Maryam Rajavi<\/a>, your leadership continues to guide this movement. I am honored to speak here today with you. Thank you so much and God bless you.<\/div>\n<div id=\"lyte_LjMFonP0rd4\" class=\"pL\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FLjMFonP0rd4%2Fhqdefault.jpg\">\n<div class=\"tC\">\n<p>Distinguished guests, activists, members of the Iranian American community, and all those joining us today online. It\u2019s a privilege to be with you at this truly historic gathering. This isn\u2019t just a convention. This is the demonstration of a political reality that the Iranian people not only reject dictatorship but already have a democratic alternative capable of replacing it.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve stood with this movement before in front of the United Nations in New York, and earlier this year in Rome, where I spoke on a panel at the International Free Iran Summit 2025. A summit where Mrs. Maryam Rajavi delivered the keynote address.<\/p>\n<p>And I say this with full confidence: The National Council of Resistance of Iran is not a theory. It is not an opposition on paper. It is a government in waiting, backed by a movement that has survived prison, executions, terrorism, and exile, and yet stands stronger than ever.<\/p>\n<p>We just heard the battle cry for this movement in the beautiful music just played. We are no longer in the phase of asking if this regime will change. No, the regime is losing control. We are now in the phase of highlighting the force for change and determining who is prepared to lead the nation when it does.<\/p>\n<p>Inside Iran, the regime is hanging young protesters. It\u2019s executing political prisoners and launching new waves of repression, not from strength, but from fear. And now for the first time in years, the international pressure is returning as well.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-80816\" src=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"586\" onerror=\"this.src='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';this.srcset='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-1-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The snapback mechanism has been activated, restoring UN sanctions that the regime thought it had escaped. Tehran is once again cornered, economically, politically, and diplomatically. The walls are closing in, not because of foreign armies, but because of the courage of the Iranian people and the persistence of the Iranian Resistance that never surrendered.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian regime spends tremendous time and energy demonizing one force above all others: the NCRI and the <a href=\"https:\/\/english.mojahedin.org\/about-iranian-opposition-pmoi-mek\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MEK<\/a>. It doesn\u2019t fear exiled monarchs. It doesn\u2019t fear lobbyists. It does not fear those waiting for change to happen.<\/p>\n<p>It fears the <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/peoples-mojahedin-pmoi-mek-iran\/\" rel=\"\">MEK<\/a>, because this movement is organized. It has leadership. It has structure. It has a clear political program, and it has Resistance Units within Iran who are focused on confronting the Revolutionary Guards and repressive forces, and they\u2019re already preparing for a transition of power.<\/p>\n<p>A regime does not wage a disinformation campaign against an idea. It only fears what it sees as an existential threat. And that threat is this movement, the movement gathered right here in this room.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s all of you. And let me speak plainly about what the world must stop pretending. There\u2019s no path forward for Iran through some form of dictatorship. Neither is maintaining part of the current theocracy or the restoration of the monarchy.<\/p>\n<p>The Iranian people rejected dictatorship 46 years ago under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/society\/who-was-mohammad-reza-pahlavi-shah-irans-last-pahlavi-dictator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shah<\/a>, and they\u2019re not going back. That chapter of history is closed. Iran will not trade a turban for a crown.<\/p>\n<p>The real alternative doesn\u2019t come from nostalgia, foreign influence, or from inherited titles. A real alternative comes from sacrifice, from struggle, and from the legitimacy earned in the streets, in the prisons, and in the hearts of the people. And that alternative is the National Council of Resistance of Iran.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve met Mrs. Maryam Rajavi multiple times. I\u2019ve asked her questions. I\u2019ve listened to her vision, and I\u2019ve seen her leadership. And although I haven\u2019t yet visited <a href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/articles\/2019\/08\/ashraf-3-home-to-iranian-opposition-group-mek-in-albania\/12507\/\" rel=\"\">Ashraf 3<\/a>, personally, I\u2019ve studied what\u2019s been built there, and I know what it represents: a living example of what the Iranian Resistance is capable of when it is free from the regime\u2019s violence. Like Ashraf 3, the future of Iran is pluralistic, it\u2019s modern, and it\u2019s rooted in universal values.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-80817\" src=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"535\" onerror=\"this.src='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';this.srcset='https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/themes\/hello-elementor\/images\/broken-image-placeholder.gif';\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands--300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Ambassador-Carla-Sands--768x411.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the defining features of this movement, and one that terrifies the mullahs, is the central role of women. Not as symbols, not as supporters, but as leaders. The only revolution in the Middle East led by women is the Iranian Resistance. In a regime built on gender oppression, the alternative is led by women and powered by thousands of women, who command Resistance Units, political offices, and international campaigns. History will record this fact: when Iran rises, it will rise under the leadership of its daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Look around this room. This isn\u2019t theory. This is not exiled nostalgia. This is political capacity. This movement has everything it needs: the brightest people, utmost commitment, the unmatched track record, and the visionary and viable leadership.<\/p>\n<p>More than 1,000 people, experts, scholars, organizers, doctors, former political prisoners, activists, and the young generation are united here behind this message: NCRI and Iran has an alternative that has both the capacity and the intent to bring change in Iran. NCRI has leadership. Iran now has leadership. NCRI has a plan. Iran has that plan: The Ten-Point Plan for a democratic, secular, non-nuclear republic.<\/p>\n<p>The NCRI has a plan for transition after the fall of the mullahs, leading to a representative government. And that is why today matters. Because you are not asking the world to invent a solution. You are showing that the solution already exists.<\/p>\n<p>To all of you, you are showing that Iran does not need foreign boots on the ground or an appropriation of money. You are the plan.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s long past time for democratic governments to recognize the right of the Iranian people to overthrow this regime. Hold Tehran accountable for the crimes against humanity. To stop legitimizing the regime through giving them concessions. And acknowledge that the NCRI is the legitimate representative of the Iranian people\u2019s struggle for freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Appeasement has failed. Reform is impossible. The only path to stability in Iran and in the region is the victory of the Iranian people and their organized resistance in ending the rule of theocracy in Iran.<\/p>\n<p>So let us say clearly and confidently, no to dictatorship, no turban, no crown. Yes to a democratic Republic. Yes to the leadership of women in future Iran. Yes to the Resistance Units within Iran who are risking everything. Yes to the people of Iran who are closer to victory than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>And to those fighting in the prisons in Iran, in the streets, and in the resistance centers across the world, I say, we see you. We honor you, and we stand with you. Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Until Iran is free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u201cThe most important thing about the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FreeIranConvention2025?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FreeIranConvention2025<\/a> is that people are behind this movement. This isn\u2019t the movement of the elites is about the people wanting freedom and democratically-elected leaders,\u201d Amb. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarlaHSands?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CarlaHSands<\/a> said in an exclusive interview with Simay Azadi. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dMkInQMobt\">pic.twitter.com\/dMkInQMobt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/en_simayazadi\/status\/1990069675842048114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":80814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3037,18,867,1,32],"tags":[3750,3913],"class_list":["post-80806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-free-iran-2025","category-supports","category-iranian-resistance","category-news","category-videos","tag-carla-sands","tag-free-iran-convention-2025"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"556\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@4freedominiran2\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Iran Freedom\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\"},\"headline\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1468,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Carla Sands\",\"Free Iran Convention 2025\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Free Iran 2025\",\"International Supports\",\"Iranian Resistance\",\"News\",\"Videos\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\",\"name\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":556,\"caption\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands - Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC - Nov 15\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/free-iran-2025\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\\\/80806\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"description\":\"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy & Equality\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/05\\\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png\",\"width\":251,\"height\":78,\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/4FreedominIran\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6\",\"name\":\"Iran Freedom\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Iran Freedom\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/4freedominiran2\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/iranfreedom.org\\\/en\\\/author\\\/iran-freedom2\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","og_description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","og_url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","og_site_name":"Iran Freedom","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","article_published_time":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":556,"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Iran Freedom","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_site":"@4freedominiran2","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Iran Freedom","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"},"author":{"name":"Iran Freedom","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6"},"headline":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d","datePublished":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"},"wordCount":1468,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","keywords":["Carla Sands","Free Iran Convention 2025"],"articleSection":["Free Iran 2025","International Supports","Iranian Resistance","News","Videos"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/","name":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d - Iran Freedom","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-19T07:35:59+00:00","dateModified":"2025-11-20T15:00:53+00:00","description":"Carla Sands asserts at Free Iran 2025 that Iranians back the NCRI as a democratic alternative and urges global recognition of their right to overthrow the regime.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Former-U.S.-Ambassador-to-Denmark-Carla-Sands-Free-Iran-Convention-2025-Washington-DC-Nov-15.jpg","width":1000,"height":556,"caption":"Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands - Free Iran Convention 2025, Washington DC - Nov 15"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/free-iran-2025\/2025\/11\/former-u-s-ambassador-carla-sands-at-free-iran-convention-2025-iran-will-not-trade-a-turban-for-a-crown\/80806\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Former U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands at Free Iran Convention 2025: \u201cIran Will Not Trade a Turban for a Crown\u201d"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","name":"Iran Freedom","description":"Uniting for Freedom, Democracy & Equality","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#organization","name":"Iran Freedom","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Iran-Freedom-logo-with-text.png","width":251,"height":78,"caption":"Iran Freedom"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/4FreedominIran","https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCOlKtE23ls9XtndDe2dmXcg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0c0ca1f507008310991aaf03eca5f8d6","name":"Iran Freedom","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a5dffed9e9c88987b4cfbd51b619e85f9ac9e9d4995463ec41ee804a650db8b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Iran Freedom"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/4freedominiran2"],"url":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/author\/iran-freedom2\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80806"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80928,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80806\/revisions\/80928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iranfreedom.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}