The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei marks a definitive turning point in the nation’s political trajectory. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), characterized the event as the death of religious tyranny and the end of the Velayat-e Faqih regime. Seizing upon this historic vacuum, the NCRI has moved swiftly to announce the formation of a provisional government, aiming to transition the country toward a democratic republic.
The Death of Khamenei Is the Death of Religious Despotism and the End of the Velayat-e Faqih Regime
The Roadmap for a Provisional Government
The NCRI’s blueprint for the immediate post-Khamenei era relies heavily on its established Ten-Point Plan for transferring sovereignty to the Iranian populace. Rajavi has declared that the provisional government, once established on Iranian territory, is obligated to hold free and fair elections within a six-month window. These elections are designed to form a National Legislative and Constituent Assembly.
The mandate of this newly formed Assembly will be extensive. It is tasked with drafting a new constitution, defining the parameters of the new republican system, and legislating the administration of current affairs. Crucially, the Assembly will designate a new government to assume responsibility after the six-month provisional government resigns. In her address, Rajavi emphasized that the NCRI and the provisional government are not seeking permanent power, but are acting as a conduit to transfer sovereignty back to the Iranian people.
To manage the immediate domestic situation, Rajavi called upon a wide swath of civil society—including students, workers, nurses, teachers, and young entrepreneurs—to work alongside the National Liberation Army to safeguard public health, safety, and security. She issued a direct appeal to the patriotic personnel within the traditional army to stand with the people, while simultaneously demanding that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other regime preservation forces lay down their weapons and surrender.
Independence and Coalition Building
The NCRI positions itself as the most enduring democratic and independent coalition in Iran’s history. Mrs. Rajavi firmly rejected any need for foreign intervention in this transitional period, stating that the Iranian people write their own destiny. The coalition further clarified that it seeks neither foreign funds nor the presence of foreign military forces on Iranian soil.
Instead, the leadership is calling for internal solidarity. Pointing to the National Solidarity Front plan introduced 24 years ago, Rajavi urged all political forces committed to overthrowing religious despotism and separating religion from the state to unite. She specifically warned against factions seeking to co-opt the democratic revolution, explicitly rejecting both the dictatorial Shah and the tyrannical mullahs, as well as the remnants of “monarchical fascism”.
