An international online conference on March 5, 2026, brought together political leaders, former officials, and lawmakers from Europe and North America to discuss Iran’s political situation and the proposal for a provisional government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). The event, titled “Iran at Crossroads: Supporting the NCRI Provisional Government,” focused on the opposition coalition’s vision for political transition and the framework it has proposed for a future democratic system.
Participants examined the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan and its newly announced provisional government initiative, which supporters say is intended to guide a transitional period and prepare the ground for democratic elections. The conference featured remarks from a range of international figures who addressed both the political climate in Iran and the role opposition movements may play in shaping the country’s future.
Rajavi Presents Transition Plan
Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, opened the conference by outlining the purpose of the proposed provisional government. She said the initiative is intended to facilitate the transfer of sovereignty to the Iranian people during a transitional phase following political change.
According to Mrs. Rajavi, the provisional government would organize elections for a constituent assembly within six months. That assembly would then be responsible for determining the country’s future political structure through democratic procedures.
Mrs. Rajavi also highlighted the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, which includes commitments to gender equality, the separation of religion and state, and protections for the rights of ethnic communities in Iran. She described the plan as a framework for establishing a secular and democratic republic.
In her remarks, Mrs. Rajavi also referred to PMOI-affiliated Resistance Units operating inside Iran. She described them as organized groups working despite what she characterized as significant repression by authorities.
International Speakers Address Iran’s Political Situation
Several speakers at the conference shared their perspectives on Iran’s political landscape and the role of opposition organizations.
Iran at a Crossroads: Supporting the NCRI Provisional Government Based on Its Ten-Point Planhttps://t.co/YXASTo7Qxl
— Iran Focus (@Iran_Focus) March 5, 2026
James Jones, former United States National Security Advisor, said that developments in Iran could represent an important moment in the country’s political trajectory. Drawing on years of observing the Iranian opposition, Jones praised the persistence of the NCRI and its leadership.
Jones also referred to the activities of Resistance Units inside Iran, describing them as young activists continuing their opposition despite the risks involved. He emphasized that the future of Iran should ultimately be determined by its own people rather than by outside powers.
John Bercow, the former Speaker of the UK House of Commons, addressed debates surrounding alternative political models for Iran. He criticized proposals advocating the return of the Pahlavi monarchy, arguing that such ideas represent a return to the past rather than a path toward the future.
Bercow said the NCRI’s long-standing political platform and its network of supporters demonstrate an organized alternative that has developed over decades.
Discussion of International Support
Other participants focused on the role of the international community in responding to developments related to Iran.
Ingrid Betancourt, a former Colombian senator, described the current situation as a potential turning point and argued that moments of political uncertainty require structured alternatives to prevent instability. She said the NCRI’s proposal for a provisional government deserves serious international attention.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament, said Iran’s ruling system is facing pressures both internally and externally. He described the combination of domestic opposition and international pressure as a significant factor shaping the country’s political environment.
Former U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli also addressed the conference, saying that political transitions often require organized movements capable of filling governance gaps. He pointed to the NCRI’s political structure and international connections as elements supporters believe could allow it to play such a role.
Louis Freeh, former director of the FBI, similarly described the NCRI as an organized opposition coalition with networks that could contribute to managing a future transition.
Democratic Principles and Policy Proposals
Several European officials emphasized democratic governance and human rights during their remarks.
Robert Joseph, former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, referred to the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan as a political framework emphasizing democratic institutions and civil liberties.
French lawmaker André Chassaigne stressed that decisions about Iran’s political future should ultimately be made by the Iranian people. He warned against narratives that could lead either to the continuation of the current political system or to the revival of earlier forms of authoritarian rule.
Christine Arrighi, another member of the French National Assembly, noted that thousands of parliamentarians worldwide have expressed support for the Ten-Point Plan. She highlighted provisions including equality between men and women, the abolition of the death penalty, and the separation of religion and state.
Policy Measures and Legal Accountability
Several speakers also outlined potential policy measures for Western governments.
David Jones, a former UK minister, called for stronger diplomatic pressure on Iran, including designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and expelling Iranian diplomats from Western capitals.
Former UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox emphasized that the Iranian people must determine their own political future and argued that national sovereignty should remain central in any discussion of political change in the country.
Ola Elvestuen, a former Norwegian minister, described the current political climate as one of the most difficult periods for Iran’s ruling system in decades and said international support for democratic movements could be important.
The conference also addressed legal accountability in a possible post-transition period. Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former German minister of justice, said that addressing human rights violations would be a critical element of any political transition and highlighted the possible role of international legal institutions in that process.
Throughout the conference, speakers returned to the themes of political transition, democratic governance, and the potential role of organized opposition movements in shaping Iran’s future.
