Prominent leaders took part in an international conference in Paris on January 11, 2025. The event gathered distinguished political and military figures who emphasized the urgency of shifting global policy toward the Iranian regime. The conference underscored the significance of the Iranian Resistance as a viable democratic alternative to the ruling theocracy.
Speakers included Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI); Gen. James Jones, former U.S. National Security Advisor; Liz Truss, former UK Prime Minister; John Bercow, former Speaker of the UK Parliament; Janez Janša, former Prime Minister of Slovenia; Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine; Gen. Tod Wolters, former NATO Commander and U.S. Forces in Europe Commander; David Jones, former UK Minister; and Gen. Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Other speakers included Ola Elvestuen, former Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment.
Maryam Rajavi highlighted the regime’s vulnerabilities, stating, “The boycott of the 2024 elections and the fall of the Syrian dictatorship demonstrate that the Iranian regime is on the brink of collapse.” She pointed to economic crises, regional defeats, and Resistance Units’ increasing activities as signs of imminent change. “The Resistance Units in Tehran and other cities are advancing the great task of preparing for an organized uprising,” she said. She urged Western governments to shift from appeasement to a firm stance, declaring, “The recognition of the Iranian Resistance is a necessary part of a firm policy against the mullahs’ regime.”
Gen. James Jones described 2024 as “catastrophic for the Iranian regime,” citing Tehran’s strategic failures, including the “fall of Bashar al-Assad” and “Hezbollah’s near-collapse.” He commended MEK-affiliated Resistance Units, stating, “These brave men and women remind us that the spirit of resistance in Iran is alive.” Calling for stronger sanctions, he said, “We must recognize the NCRI as the legitimate voice of the Iranian people.”
Liz Truss criticized appeasement, stating, “Appeasement only strengthened the regime.” She warned, “Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon, and this poses an existential threat to global peace.” Truss advocated for “maximum pressure sanctions, rigorous enforcement, and support for the Iranian Resistance,” adding, “The NCRI offers a clear and democratic vision for Iran’s future.”
John Bercow supported the NCRI, stating, “Mrs. Rajavi and the NCRI are the embodiment of vision, courage, and leadership.” He pointed to “millions of Iranians” boycotting the 2024 elections as proof of the regime’s unpopularity. He described the Resistance Units as “interwoven with Iranian society” and called the NCRI’s plan “a roadmap for a peaceful transition to democracy.”
Gen. Keith Kellogg emphasized 2025 as “a year of hope, action, and change.” He described the Iranian regime as weaker than ever: “The regime in Iran is weaker and more vulnerable than it has been in decades. It should not be feared but challenged.” Criticizing past appeasement, he pointed to “President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal” as a turning point. Supporting the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, he called it “a clear transitional path to a friendly, stable, and non-nuclear Iran.”
Janez Janša urged recognition of the NCRI, stating, “The people of Iran deserve democracy, freedom, and the protection of human rights.” He dismissed past engagement strategies with Iran, calling them failures: “It is time to transition from engagement to firmness.” He advocated for “sanctions enforcement and the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization.”
Yulia Tymoshenko compared Iran’s freedom movement to Ukraine’s fight against tyranny, stating, “The Iranian regime is one of the gravest threats to global stability.” She highlighted the role of Iranian women, calling them “the heart of the movement for change.” Tymoshenko urged decisive international action: “The Iranian people are not asking for military intervention but for moral and political support.”
Gen. Tod Wolters described 2025 as a “transformative year for Iran.” He praised the Iranian Resistance: “For over four decades, you have given your blood, sweat, and tears to correct the nefariousness of the regime.” Highlighting Iran’s vulnerabilities, he said, “The conditions are correct on the ground and strategically.”
David Jones described Assad’s overthrow as “a pivotal loss” for Tehran, stating, “The collapse of the IRGC’s intervention in Syria highlights the vulnerability of the regime.” He condemned the regime’s repression, referencing “nearly 1,000 executions in 2024 under President Masoud Pezeshkian.”
Ola Elvestuen highlighted Tehran’s “deliberate defamation campaign against the NCRI” as proof of its fear of organized resistance. He noted that “the regime wants to paint a picture of disunity to confuse parliamentarians and the public.” Calling for global recognition of the NCRI, he stated, “Sanctions alone are not enough. The international community must recognize and engage with the true agents of change—the Iranian people and their organized resistance.”
The conference concluded with a call for firm international policies against the Iranian regime and support for a democratic transition led by the Iranian Resistance.
