An event titled “Iran: Organized Resistance, Key to Overthrow” was held today in France, featuring former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The conference underscored the Iranian regime’s increasing vulnerabilities and emphasized the role of organized resistance in bringing about democratic change in Iran.
Opening Remarks by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi opened the event by welcoming attendees, including members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) at Ashraf 3. She highlighted the regime’s strategic defeats in 2024, particularly in Syria and Lebanon, as clear reflections of its instability and weakness. “The regime’s strategic defeats in Syria and Lebanon are a reflection of its weakness at home. Like its predecessor, the mullahs’ dictatorship must be and will be overthrown,” she declared.
Rajavi outlined the growing resistance within Iran, noting increased activities by Resistance Units, the regime’s economic collapse, and widespread defiance against its sham elections. “2024 was a year full of serious defeats for the regime,” she said, citing boycotts of its elections and defections within its loyal forces. She stressed that the fall of the Assad dictatorship in Syria marked a significant blow to Khamenei’s regional strategy, stating, “If the regime were not weak and unstable inside Iran, it could have preserved its most important ally.”
Rajavi concluded her remarks by calling on the international community to recognize the legitimacy of the Iranian people’s struggle. She stated, “Recognizing the Iranian Resistance and Resistance Units’ struggle is a necessary part of a firm policy against the mullahs’ regime. This is not one choice among many; it is the only practical and viable solution to confront the religious fascism ruling Iran.”
Pompeo’s Remarks: A Focus on Resistance and Regime Weakness
Following Mrs. Rajavi’s speech, Mike Pompeo took the stage, offering a detailed analysis of the regime’s fragility and the critical role of the Resistance. He praised the NCRI’s unwavering commitment, stating, “You are all so committed to seeing a free Iran.” Pompeo expressed optimism, describing the current moment as one of great hope for Iran’s future. “It is a time for optimism for the people of Iran,” he affirmed.
Pompeo highlighted the regime’s escalating crises, calling the past year “the most devastating” for the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), and the Ayatollah (Khamenei). He cited the regime’s economic failures, including the rial’s 30% devaluation and its inability to provide basic necessities like fuel and heat. “What is one of the most energy-rich nations on the planet cannot provide energy for its own people,” he remarked, emphasizing that the regime’s priorities lie in war and repression rather than serving its citizens.
The MEK and the Regime’s Demonization Campaigns
Pompeo devoted significant attention to the MEK’s pivotal role in resisting the regime, acknowledging its sacrifices and resilience. He condemned the regime’s propaganda campaigns aimed at discrediting the MEK, stating, “Every week in Friday prayer ceremonies across Iran, the regime chants slogans against the Resistance, and its propaganda machine calls them a terror cult. I wouldn’t be here if that’s what it was.”
He called the MEK members “freedom fighters of the highest order” and highlighted their organizational capabilities and decades-long struggle. Pompeo also pointed to the MEK’s crucial role in exposing the regime’s nuclear and missile programs, stating, “The world owes great debt for all of this hard work.”
Path Forward: A Call for Recognition and Action
Pompeo echoed Mrs. Rajavi’s call for international recognition of the NCRI and MEK, describing them as the best alternatives to the ruling clerics. He stressed the importance of the Resistance Units in achieving democratic change, stating, “Iran will be free, but only by those who have sacrificed for decades, who have paid the highest price.”
Pompeo expressed confidence in the eventual downfall of the regime, emphasizing that its collapse is imminent due to its inherent corruption and failures. “The regime’s end is within reach,” he asserted, urging the Resistance to stay focused on their efforts against the IRGC.
Conclusion
The event served as a powerful platform to highlight the Iranian regime’s growing instability and the indispensable role of the NCRI and MEK in paving the way for a free Iran. Both Mrs. Rajavi and Mike Pompeo stressed the urgency of recognizing the Iranian people’s struggle and supporting the organized resistance. The conference concluded with a shared vision for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Iran, reaffirming the international community’s moral and strategic responsibility to stand with the Iranian people.