A large group of supporters of the Iranian resistance movement held a demonstration on Saturday, March 7, in front of the United States Congress, calling on the international community to support the people of Iran and to recognize the transitional government announced by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Participants in the gathering chanted the slogan “Neither Shah nor mullahs,” emphasizing the establishment of a democratic republic in Iran based on the separation of religion and state.
The End of an Era: Khamenei’s Death Triggers NCRI Call for a Provisional Government
At the demonstration, several American political figures, human rights activists, representatives of Iranian organizations in the United States, and members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran delivered speeches. The central theme of their remarks was support for the ten-point plan proposed by Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the NCRI, for the future of Iran and an emphasis on the role of the Iranian people and organized resistance in determining the country’s destiny.
The National Council of Resistance Plan for the Transitional Period
Soona Samsami, the representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in the United States, referring to the sacrifices made by the Iranian people for freedom, said: “Thousands of people have paid a heavy price for freedom, and these sacrifices show that the people of Iran are determined to bring about change and establish a democratic republic.”
Referring to previous revelations by the Iranian resistance about the regime’s nuclear program, she said these disclosures prevented the Iranian regime from surprising the world with a sudden acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Samsami also referred to the transfer-of-power plan within the ten-point program and said: “The transitional government is tasked with transferring sovereignty to the people of Iran and within six months preparing the conditions for free elections to form a constituent assembly.”
She also emphasized that the plan includes the dissolution of repressive institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia, guarantees the rights of Iran’s various nationalities, and establishes full equality between women and men.
Remarks by a Former Member of the U.S. Congress
At the gathering, Ted Poe, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, referred to the widespread repression in Iran and said the world should know that thousands of Iranian citizens have been killed by the regime over past decades.
He described the Iranian regime as an enemy of the Iranian people and also a threat to the world, adding that dictatorships remain in power through weapons and repression, but such a situation will not last forever.
The former congressman referred to Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan and said many of its principles, including the separation of religion and state and equality between women and men, align with widely recognized democratic values around the world. He emphasized that the people of Iran must decide their country’s future themselves.
The Role of Youth and Women in the Freedom Movement
In another part of the program, Melody Mohammadi, a young Iranian activist, referred to the struggles of women in Iran and said: “For 47 years, women in Iran have been subjected to misogynistic laws, but they have never surrendered and today they stand on the front lines of the freedom movement.”
Emma Valibeygi, another speaker at the rally, also emphasized the role of the younger generation, stating: “We are not only thinking about the end of this regime, but also about a democratic future in which sovereignty returns to the people.” She called on the international community to support Iranian women and youth who are on the front lines of the struggle for freedom.
Emphasis on Nationalities’ Rights; Remarks by the Representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
One of the notable speeches at the gathering was delivered by Arash Saleh, the representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) in the United States. Referring to Iran’s ethnic and national diversity, he said: “We are here today to be the voice of the people of Iran with all their social groups, nationalities, and ethnic minorities.”
He emphasized that the experience of two dictatorships in Iran has shown that without genuine acceptance of pluralism, democracy will not take shape in the country. Saleh said: “We cannot have democracy if the rights of nationalities and ethnic minorities are ignored or if they are labeled as separatists.”
The Kurdish political activist also stressed that preserving Iran’s territorial integrity would be strengthened by recognizing the rights of nationalities and creating mechanisms of autonomy within a democratic system.
Referring to the slogans of protesters inside Iran, he said: “The message of the people in Iran’s streets is clear; they want neither a return to monarchy nor the continuation of clerical rule, but rather a democratic republic.”
Emphasis on the Role of Organized Resistance
At the end of the gathering, Iranian activist Sina Saeidian referred to recent developments in Iran and said: “Real change in Iran will only come through the people and their organized resistance.”
He emphasized that the international community must recognize the right of the Iranian people to struggle against dictatorship and to strive for the establishment of a democratic system.
