Foreign Military Power Won’t Topple Clerical Regime, Only ‘Nationwide Resistance’ Will

An exclusive Breitbart interview with the leader of the main Iranian opposition alternative Maryam Rajavi

Joshua Klein, January 20, 2026

Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi warned that the Islamic Republic’s escalating violence against protesters has exposed a regime under strain — but not one on the verge of collapse — arguing that Tehran will not fall through foreign military intervention or external pressure alone, but only through an organized, nationwide resistance capable of dismantling its repressive core.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Rajavi — the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) — said recent developments have made clear that while Iran’s clerical rulers are increasingly vulnerable, their weakening alone will not bring about the regime’s downfall.

The Free Iran Convention 2025 brought together Iranian scholars, activists, professionals, and community leaders to outline a clear vision for ending dictatorship and building a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear republic in Iran. This landmark all-day event featured Iranian voices from across the United States, joined by prominent U.S. and international dignitaries. Participants explored the current situation in Iran, the growing momentum for change, and the blueprint for a free and just future. Throughout the day, the Convention explored the forces driving change inside Iran and the shape of the alternative emerging to replace clerical rule.

The Free Iran Convention opened with welcoming remarks delivered by Ms. Soona Samsami, the U.S. Representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. PANEL 1 (Society Ripe for Change) examined why Iranian society has reached a breaking point, and why fundamental change has become inevitable. PANEL 2 (Iranian Women and Legacy of Resistance) highlighted the central role of Iranian women, whose leadership has transformed the national struggle for freedom. PANEL 3 (Prospects for Change, the Plan for Transition) presented the practical roadmap for bringing an end to clerical rule and ensuring a peaceful transfer of power to a democratic, secular, republican government. PANEL 4 (The Power of Youth in Driving Change) turned to Iran’s younger generation, whose defiance and vision are reshaping the country’s political future.

A special segment, The Heart of Iran in Revolt, amplified voices from inside Iran, stories of courage, resilience, and unshakable hope. The program also included a Distinguished Dialogue on how Iran can rebuild its institutions and economy in a new democratic era, A Scholar’s Vision for Tomorrow, outlining a forward-looking framework for national recovery, justice, and prosperity. Finally, in the Transatlantic Perspectives, prominent American and European dignitaries shared their perspectives on global support for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom and the international significance of a democratic, peaceful Iran.

September 24, 2025

General Todd Wolters, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told the crowd that the NCRI has prepared for decades to be an alternative to the regime, and highlighted the role of the Resistance Units. “This regime exports terrorism and crushes civil life,” he said. “The National […]

AP: “A sea of protesters, chanting and carrying Iranian flags, gathered outside the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday to oppose the Iranian delegation to the U.N.”

The gathering underscores a proven reality: The NCRI stands as the sole opposition alternative to the regime with genuine popular support on the ground

New York, September 23, 2025. On a bright autumn morning in New York, a sea of banners and voices converged outside the United Nations. What began as a routine rally swelled into a large demonstration of solidarity — not just with those who had left Iran, but with the millions inside it who are quietly, and sometimes dangerously, resisting. Families, students, former political prisoners, as well as US dignitaries stood shoulder to shoulder, their faces lit by conviction

The international community can support regime change efforts by recognizing those fighting the religious dictatorship

By Maryam Rajavi, the President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Monday, July 14, 2025, Originally Published in Washington Times

The solution to the Iranian crisis that has influenced the Middle East and the world for nearly half a century lies in regime change and organized resistance by the Iranian people.

This is the “third option” I articulated 21 years ago in the European Parliament and have reiterated countless times since: Neither foreign war nor appeasement will win against this regime. The only thing that will do so is change by the people and the resistance.

I have repeatedly warned that if appeasement with Tehran continues, war in the region is destined, an unfortunate reality we have witnessed recently. The mullahs’ dictatorship survives by exporting terrorism, relentlessly pursuing nuclear weapons and relying on brutal repression.

The international community can support regime change efforts by recognizing those fighting the religious dictatorship

By Maryam Rajavi, the President-Elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Monday, July 14, 2025, Originally Published in Washington Times

The solution to the Iranian crisis that has influenced the Middle East and the world for nearly half a century lies in regime change and organized resistance by the Iranian people.

This is the “third option” I articulated 21 years ago in the European Parliament and have reiterated countless times since: Neither foreign war nor appeasement will win against this regime. The only thing that will do so is change by the people and the resistance.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Is A Day to Expose the Mullahs’ Misogynist Tyranny

Dear Baroness O’Loan, Baroness Verma,
Honorable lawmakers, dear friends,
Good day to you all.
I send my greetings to your gathering on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. First, I would like to honor all the women who have risen against violence and oppression. Brave women who endured brutal torture in the prisons of the religious dictatorship ruling Iran. Women who sacrificed their lives, and women who are presently resisting in Khamenei’s prisons across Iran.

The Iran World Summit, along with the Free Iran Rally 2024, will showcase prominent speakers who will address key topics such as the sham presidential election in Iran, the threats posed by the existing regime, the viable alternative, and the imperative of adopting the right policies to foster a prosperous future for Iran.