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VPN And Proxy Services Have Become a $500 Million Market in Iran

Jubin Katiraie
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VPN And Proxy Services Have Become a $500 Million Market in Iran

A board member of Iran’s Virtual Business Association announced that the annual turnover of Iran’s VPN and proxy market is around $500 million, which is one of the reasons internet censorship remains in place in the country.

On Monday, September 8, Pashootan Pourpezeshk told the state-run website Eghtesad120 that estimates suggest the VPN market in Iran generates between 30 to 50 trillion tomans (approximately $300–500 million) annually.

He explained that given the volume of Instagram-based commerce, these figures are not unrealistic, adding that such economic dimensions are one of the main reasons why numerous obstacles exist against lifting internet censorship in Iran.

Iran Ranks 97th Out of 100 Countries in Internet Quality

On June 3, the state-run daily Shargh reported, citing unofficial estimates and independent research centers, that the VPN and proxy market in Iran is worth between 30 to 60 trillion tomans ($300–600 million) annually.

The report emphasized that these numbers have sharply increased in the years following the widespread blocking of platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and YouTube.

Tax collection from Instagram bloggers despite the ban

In another part of his interview with Eghtesad120, Pourpezeshk said that since September 2022, censorship in Iran has intensified and access for many businesses has become restricted.

According to him, more than 700,000 online shops are active on Instagram in Iran, and the market value of goods and services traded on the platform is estimated at 75 to 85 trillion tomans (approximately $750–850 million) annually.

The board member highlighted contradictions in Iran’s tax policies, noting that although Instagram is blocked, the Tax Administration imposes taxes on content creators and sellers on the platform based on their number of followers and banking transactions.

He added that while their income is officially recognized for taxation, when it comes to losses and restricted access, they receive no support.

Earlier, on September 7, Behzad Akbari, head of Iran’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Company, stated that around 80% of internet users in Iran use VPNs and 70% of the country’s internet traffic runs through them.

This situation persists even though lifting censorship was one of the campaign promises of Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian. However, after winning the election, his officials urged citizens to be patient regarding this pledge.

For more than two decades, the Iranian regime’s restrictive internet policies have limited free access, forcing many users to rely on VPNs and proxies to access blocked websites and social media platforms.

The widespread use of such software is one of the main reasons behind the declining quality and slow speed of internet in Iran.

At the same time, reports have surfaced that certain companies and individuals close to the regime are profiting from the VPN market.

A New Oil Smuggling Scandal Involving Iranian Regime Leaders

Mehdi Hosseini
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A New Oil Smuggling Scandal Involving Iranian Regime Leaders

Following the revelation of new details in the case of Iran’s oil smuggling, the Iraqi prime minister ordered the formation of a special committee. This order came after the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a wide network of violators.

The purpose of this committee is to investigate suspicions of corruption in oil and petroleum product smuggling. This network had been selling Iranian regime oil on the market by falsifying its origin as Iraqi oil.

This move is considered an effort to protect Iraq’s national economy and public assets. The wide-ranging diplomatic activity in Baghdad highlights the importance of this matter for the Iraqi government.

Iranian Regime’s Oil Exports to China Surge Sharply in June

On September 6, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the formation of this high-level committee. It consists of relevant institutions and is tasked with reviewing information and reports related to corruption and suspicious operations in Iraq’s ports and territorial waters.

In an official statement, al-Sudani stressed that there would be no leniency in this case. He added that the committee must submit the necessary recommendations for legal action to the cabinet after completing its investigations.

According to the Iraqi prime minister, the ultimate goal of this measure is to protect national assets and combat corruption.

These measures follow accusations by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration that the Iranian regime has been evading sanctions through oil smuggling and the use of Iraqi ports. The Iraqi government is trying to prevent the U.S. from imposing sanctions on its oil sector.

Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) on September 2 denied any oil smuggling or crude oil mixing operations in the country’s ports and territorial waters.

This denial came only hours after Washington announced sanctions on a network of companies and oil tankers. The network was run by an Iraqi trader named Walid al-Samarrai.

According to the U.S. government, al-Samarrai smuggled Iranian regime oil onto the global market by falsifying documents to present it as Iraqi oil. These allegations highlight the complexity and scale of the oil smuggling operation.

Earlier, in July, the U.S. had sanctioned another network led by an Iraqi trader, which was accused of smuggling oil worth billions of dollars.

They carried out this scheme by disguising or mixing Iranian regime oil with Iraqi oil.

Smuggling concealment methods and ties with the “shadow fleet”

These tankers used various methods to conceal their illegal activities, including nighttime transfers and falsifying the Automatic Identification System (AIS).

The U.S. Sanctions Iranian Oil Transport, Purchase, And Processing Network

These tankers also hid their operations by deliberately creating gaps in their location reports. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that the ships in this network carried out ship-to-ship transfers with tankers from the Iranian regime’s sanctioned “shadow fleet.” These exchanges were meant to obscure direct ties to Iran’s oil sector.

On August 8, SOMO’s CEO Ali Nizar also denied any operations of mixing Iranian oil with other countries’ oil. He dismissed the allegations as baseless and stressed that no oil smuggling takes place in Iraqi ports.

Ali Nizar, without directly naming the Iranian regime, described the claims regarding oil smuggling and mixing with oil from neighboring countries as groundless.

He stressed that no oil mixing or smuggling takes place in Iraq’s ports and territorial waters. According to the U.S. Treasury Department in July, companies linked to “Salim Ahmed Said” had been buying and transporting Iranian regime oil since at least 2020.

These companies, operating under the cover of legitimate Iraqi trade, either mixed the oil with Iraqi oil or disguised it as Iraqi crude. The value of these transactions amounted to billions of dollars.

Nizar further emphasized that no international institution has provided evidence to substantiate these claims. He described the concerns as “baseless and lacking scientific backing.”

Explaining the documents published in this regard, he said that they related to “financing operations.” He added that the documents do not concern oil tankers entering Iraqi ports to load fuel oil or petroleum products and mixing it with imported crude.

Strong Ties Between Houthis and Iranian Regime Arms Supply Network Remain Intact

Hoshang Amiri
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Strong Ties Between Houthis and Iranian Regime Arms Supply Network Remain Intact

The Conflict Armament Research (CAR) center, in its latest report, stated that the Houthis in Yemen continue to rely on foreign support, and much of the equipment seized from smuggled arms shipments shows strong links between this group and supply networks connected to the Iranian regime.

The UK-based CAR center, in its September report, wrote that Houthi forces remain dependent on foreign support to strengthen their air defenses and conduct attacks, including against ships in the Red Sea.

According to the report, the seizure of a large maritime shipment by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces just two days after the ceasefire between the Iranian regime and Israel was “the largest capture of advanced Iranian conventional weapons” in their history.

The center added that document analysis revealed an unprecedented number of advanced missiles and anti-ship systems, most of which were directly linked to supply networks affiliated with the Iranian regime.

The CAR report also stated that in the shipment’s accompanying documents, which covered an unprecedented scale of various missiles, the contents were listed as “agricultural products, machinery, and chemical fertilizers,” with no mention of weapons.

US Seizes Weapons Shipments Sent by Iran’s Regime to the Houthis

The Iranian regime has consistently denied sending weapons directly to Yemen and insists that the Houthis are capable of producing their own long-range missiles and drones.

On August 14, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the interception of weapons shipments bound for the Houthis, noting that the seizures were carried out by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces.

Warnings from think tanks

The Washington-based Middle East Forum warned, based on the CAR report, that Western—particularly U.S.—strikes on Houthi positions, no matter how precise, will be futile unless Iran’s arms supply lines to the Houthis are cut.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has warned that the Houthis’ technical capabilities are increasing.

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) also stated that tactical missile interceptions alone cannot address the widening strategic gap.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlighted the resilience of the Iranian regime’s smuggling networks, which enable the Houthis to constantly replenish and modernize their arsenal.

Continued detention and torture of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi

Jubin Katiraie
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Continued detention and torture of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi

Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi, a 79-year-old political prisoner and a survivor from the justice-seeking families of the 1980s, is still being held under very difficult conditions in the Qom Ministry of Intelligence detention center. Despite multiple illnesses and a critical physical condition, he not only has no access to medical care, but is also kept in solitary confinement under interrogation and severe psychological pressure.

Sudden and unlawful arrest

On the morning of Monday, July 28, security forces entered the home of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi in Tehran without presenting a judicial warrant and forcibly took him away. After his transfer to the Ministry of Intelligence detention center in Qom, his family was left in complete uncertainty and has only been able to have a few short phone calls with him under the control of security agents.

Iran’s Regime Executes Political Prisoners Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani

Critical physical condition

Informed sources have reported that Mr. Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi suffers from severe health problems, including heart disease, a torn knee meniscus, prostate cancer, and general weakness due to old age. Doctors had previously emphasized that he requires specialized and continuous medical care. However, judicial and security authorities have so far prevented any form of treatment or medical follow-up and have even denied him permission to undergo basic tests. This has effectively placed him at serious risk of a slow death.

Since his arrest, Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi has been denied access to a lawyer. His long-term solitary confinement, deprivation of family visits, lack of medical facilities, and repeated interrogations all constitute clear examples of psychological torture. Human rights activists emphasize that such treatment is incompatible with both international human rights laws and even Iran’s own domestic laws.

He was also arrested in 2009 and 2016 for supporting the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and spent about 10 years in Evin and Gohardasht prisons. On July 15, 2021, he was released from Gohardasht Prison in Karaj after completing his sentence, but he remained under restrictions, including a forced exile order.

Arrest as part of systematic repression

The arrest and torture of Mohammad Banazadeh Amirkhizi must be seen in the broader context of the Iranian regime’s repression of dissidents, especially the justice-seeking families of the 1980s. His re-arrest sends a clear message from the regime to other justice-seeking families: “Stay silent or pay a heavier price.”

Reserves of Five Main Dams in Iran Have Dropped to Zero

Mehdi Hosseini
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Reserves of Five Main Dams in Iran Have Dropped to Zero

The latest data from Iran’s Water Resources Management Company shows that between September 22, 2024, and September 6, 2025, the reserves of five major dams in Iran have fallen to zero.

With the worsening water crisis and the regime’s inability to manage resources, new official reports indicate that 19 large dams in the country are facing severe drought.

Voshmgir, Golestan, and Boostan dams in Golestan province, Rudbal Darab dam in Fars, and Shamil and Niyan dams in Hormozgan have completely dried up.

In Gilan, the Sefidrud dam holds only 3% of its capacity, while in Zanjan, the Taham dam has reached a warning level with just 9% of reserves.

Three Dams in Iran Dried Up, Eight More Near Collapse

The Tanguieh dam in Sirjan and the Nesa dam in Kerman are also in critical condition, with only 7% capacity.

In recent months, frequent water and power outages have severely affected citizens’ daily lives and disrupted industrial production and economic activities.

While Iranian regime officials call on people to save water and change consumption patterns, they have proven incapable of addressing the structural and managerial roots of the water and electricity crises.

Data from the Water Resources Management Company also shows that in eastern Iran, the Chahnimeh reservoirs in Sistan and Baluchestan are at 13% capacity, and the Nahrin dam in South Khorasan is at 12%, ending the water year with minimal reserves.

The Lar dam in Tehran province is only 3% full, while the Latian and Mamloo dams have 14% reserves, both in poor condition.

In Razavi Khorasan, the Doosti and Torogh dams are also in a critical state, with only 5% capacity.

On September 7, the state-run daily Ham-Mihan reported that with reservoirs running dry, the likelihood of water rationing by late September has increased.

According to the report, although Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has planned to transfer water from the Taleghan dam, the volume is “insufficient to meet Tehran’s needs.”

On September 4, the ISNA news agency wrote that consecutive years of drought, declining rainfall, and the water shortage crisis have affected agricultural production, including wheat.

Earlier, on August 12, the spokesperson of Iran’s water industry warned of the unprecedented severity of the crisis, stating that 70% of Iran’s plains are in “prohibited” or “critically prohibited” status, with more than 300 plains—including Tehran—facing the serious threat of land subsidence.

On August 11, the Water Resources Management Company reported that a total of 58% of the country’s dam reservoirs were empty.

The 85th week of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign in 52 prisons across the country

Sia Rajabi
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The 85th week of the ‘No to Execution Tuesdays’ campaign in 52 prisons across the country

In the 85th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign, political prisoners in 52 prisons across Iran are on hunger strike to protest the widespread and unjust issuance of execution sentences. In a statement issued by the political prisoners on this occasion, referring to the execution of political prisoner Mehran Bahramian and the protests of the people of Semirom, it read:

“We invite all honorable and freedom-loving people, following the example of the justice-seeking families and the noble people of Semirom, to raise the flag of ‘No to Execution’ in every city and every street.”

Rise In Executions in Iran; Ten Prisoners Hanged in One Day

This 85th week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign was marked by the participation of Sabzevar Prison, bringing the campaign to 52 prisons. With the expansion of this campaign, we are witnessing widespread resistance from prisoners and society against the policy of repression and executions.

Expansion of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign with the addition of Sabzevar Prison to 52 prisons in the 85th week

The cruel and inhuman execution of political prisoner Mehran Bahramian in the city of Semirom not only deprived one person of the right to life, but also ignited flames of anger and protest in the hearts of his family and the noble people of the city. The dignified strike by shopkeepers and justice-seeking people of Semirom is proof that our people will not remain silent in the face of these crimes and will continue their struggle until they achieve their rights.

In another criminal act by the ruling religious dictator, in silence and without media coverage, two Sunni prisoners of conscience, Eskandar Bazmandegan and Mohammad Kashfi, were hanged in Adel Abad Prison in Shiraz.

Shocking statistics show that since August 23, 92 prisoners, including four women, have been executed. In just the past week alone, the execution-driven regime took the lives of 46 individuals. According to available figures, since March 21, a total of 756 people have been executed, with 100 of those executions carried out in Ghezel Hesar Prison—meaning more than 13% of executions occurred there.

According to reports, a group of prisoners in Sabzevar Prison have announced that, in protest against the regime’s wave of executions, they are joining the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign and will go on hunger strike every Tuesday.

The members of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign wholeheartedly declare:

Execution is a tool for the blatant violation of human rights and the suppression of freedoms and they demand the immediate and complete halt of executions across the country.

The voice of this campaign is the voice of solidarity and support for all the victims of inhumane policies in Iran, and until justice, freedom, respect for human rights, and human dignity are achieved, this voice will continue to resonate and multiply inside prisons. We invite all honorable and freedom-loving people, following the example of the justice-seeking families and the noble people of Semirom, to raise the flag of “No to Execution” in every city and every street.

Life is a fundamental right of every human being, and no government has the right to take it away. In honor of the blood that has been shed and the families drowned in grief, it must be shouted: No to executions, no to dictatorship and repression, yes to justice and the sovereignty of the people.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in the 85th week, the members of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” campaign will be on hunger strike in 52 prisons.

Protest Gathering of Retirees, Workers, Students, and Border Residents in the Streets

Esmaeil Mohades
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Protest Gathering of Retirees, Workers, Students, and Border Residents in the Streets

On Sunday, September 7, Iran witnessed a series of widespread protests in different cities. Retirees, workers, students, border residents, and young doctors each held separate demonstrations to voice their objections.

Protest of Steel Retirees and Social Security Pensioners

Dozens of steel retirees and teachers gathered in front of the Social Security Organization in Tehran. They chanted against the trampling of their rights: “Steel worker, cry out! Shout for your rights — we will not live under oppression; we sacrifice our lives for freedom — Social Security must be freed from government monopoly.”

Retirees’ Protest in Front of Social Security in Kermanshah

Retirees from various pension funds in Kermanshah also gathered in front of the Social Security Organization. They chanted: “Retiree, rise up, this is no time to sit — without water, without electricity, life is destroyed — worker, teacher, victims of inflation.”

Social Security Retirees’ Protest in Shush, Haft Tappeh, and Karkheh

Social Security retirees from Shush, Haft Tappeh, and Karkheh held a protest march. They chanted: “Only on the streets can we claim our rights — neither the parliament nor the government care for the people — retirees’ pensions only last a week — from Khuzestan to Tehran, death to these managers.”

Gathering of Retirees and Teachers in Ahvaz

Social Security retirees in Ahvaz also gathered, like other retirees, to pursue their demands.

Protest of Contract Oil and Gas Workers in Gachsaran

A group of contract workers from the Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company gathered in front of the company’s headquarters. They protested against meager wages, discrimination, and the atmosphere of repression.

Protest of Tarbiat Modares University Students

Students at Tarbiat Modares University gathered to protest against the very poor quality of food in the cafeteria and the disorder in its distribution.

Baluch Citizens’ Protest in Front of the Repressive Salman IRGC Unit

Baluch citizens gathered in front of the Salman IRGC unit to demand the reopening of the border crossing. They described the IRGC’s “tanker plan” as a source of corruption and profiteering that has destroyed the livelihoods of border residents.

Young Doctors’ Protest in Tehran

Volunteer participants of the medical specialty board exam gathered for the second consecutive day in front of the Ministry of Health in Tehran. Their main slogan was: “Employment justice is everyone’s right, not a special privilege for a few!”

Protest of Farhan Diesel Fraud Victims in Tehran

Victims of the fraudulent company “Farhan Diesel” gathered in front of Tehran’s Economic Crimes Court. They asked: “Are there any officials in this country who are not thieves or accomplices of thieves?!”

The Iranian regime has failed to provide even the most basic livelihood needs. The protests of different segments of society show that any change in people’s lives under this regime is nothing but an illusion.

Iran’s Electricity Crisis Pits Industry Against Energy Ministry

Hoshang Amiri
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Iran’s Electricity Crisis Pits Industry Against Energy Ministry

The Iranian regime’s failure in providing electricity has set the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Energy against each other

Ebrahim Sheikh, deputy minister of Industry, Mining, and Trade of Iran’s regime, criticized the Ministry of Energy’s policies on cutting electricity to industries, saying that despite a sixfold increase in electricity costs for industrialists, the “imbalances” have not been reduced.

On Saturday, September 6, Sheikh said in a meeting: “We have serious disagreements with our brothers in the Ministry of Energy, and we have completely lost our trust in this ministry’s policies and do not accept their words.”

Over 20 Provinces in Iran Shut Down Due to Power and Water Shortages

He added that the Ministry of Energy should provide stable electricity for industries, but not only has this not happened so far, the problems have worsened every year.

Sheikh criticized electricity pricing for industries, saying this process should be based on guarantees, but in the past six years, the cost of electricity for industrialists has increased sixfold, and despite all these costs, the “electricity imbalance” has not decreased.

According to a study by the Institute for Trade Studies and Research published on August 24, industrial electricity prices in 2025 compared to 2018 officially increased about 12 times and, in practice, about 30 times.

Contrary to the regime officials’ common comparisons about Iran’s lower electricity rates compared to other countries, the study showed that electricity prices for energy-intensive industries in Iran are about three times higher than the average of the Persian Gulf countries.

Deputy Minister of Industry: Instead of industries, cut electricity in “other places”

The deputy minister of Industry further said that with the continuation of electricity outages, the Ministry of Energy should not expect payments from industrialists and should not increase industrial electricity tariffs.

Referring to the “disruption of industrialists’ plans due to blackouts,” Sheikh asked the “brothers in the Ministry of Energy” to “also consider other places for power cuts.”

In addition to industries, power and water outages in households across Iran began earlier this year than in previous years, starting in May.

Protests Continue Over Frequent Power Outages in Iran with A Gathering in Babolsar

The continuation of power outages and fluctuations in recent months has claimed the lives of at least five citizens.

In addition to constant blackouts, some citizens have reported receiving electricity bills amounting to tens of millions of rials for their homes and businesses.

In recent months, officials of Iran’s regime have portrayed the people as responsible for the energy shortage in the country and, in dealing with the crisis, advised citizens to “consume less” and “turn off lights.”

For years, Iran has faced an energy crisis due to mismanagement, but the crisis has been worsening every year.

Iran’s Regime Parliament to Review Triple-Urgency Bill on Withdrawal from NPT

Sia Rajabi
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Iran’s Regime Parliament to Review Triple-Urgency Bill on Withdrawal from NPT

The spokesperson of the Presidium of Iran’s regime Majlis (parliament): The triple-urgency bill on withdrawal from the NPT will be reviewed without delay

Abbas Goudarzi, the spokesperson of the Presidium of Iran’s regime Majlis, said that the report of the National Security Commission regarding proposals and bills on Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will be reviewed in the Sunday session of the Majlis.

Iran’s Nuclear Power Dream: From Fantasy to Reality

On Sunday, September 6, Goudarzi stated that this bill carries a triple-urgency status and will be placed on the Majlis’ agenda without delay, and if approved, both its general framework and details will be reviewed in the same open session.

Goudarzi added: “During the review of the bill, members of the Guardian Council will also be present in Majlis so that, in case of final approval, they can review and declare whether or not it contradicts Sharia law and the constitution.”

Tehran MP Kamran Ghazanfari had earlier, in an interview with the state-run Hamshahri Online website, announced that the bill would be discussed in the Sunday session. He had said: “Some suggest that if the Majlis’ triple-urgency bill is approved, the endorsement of the Supreme National Security Council must also be obtained; however, such a requirement does not exist. Majlis’ approvals become enforceable after being passed and confirmed by the Guardian Council.”

Saeed Borji, Mastermind Behind Atomic Bomb Trigger Design in Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program, Killed

According to Ghazanfari, the bill includes withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and cutting off cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since it is presented as a triple-urgency bill, it does not require separate submission to the Guardian Council, and the council’s members will give their opinion during the same session.

On August 28, the European Troika — France, the United Kingdom, and Germany — announced in a letter to the UN Security Council their decision to begin the process of activating the snapback mechanism and reimposing UN sanctions against Tehran.

Following this move, officials of Iran’s regime have adopted a dual stance: on the one hand, raising the possibility of withdrawal from the NPT, and on the other, declaring Tehran’s readiness to continue the diplomatic path.

Ali Akbar Salehi, former head of the Iranian regime’s Atomic Energy Organization and former foreign minister, stated that the Majlis cannot make decisions on measures such as withdrawal from the NPT without the opinion of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

He considered withdrawal from the NPT to be within the “authority” of regime leader Ali Khamenei and added: “Governmental bodies like the Majlis, as a rule, cannot express their opinion in such matters without consulting the leader.”

Also, on September 4, Ismail Kowsari, a member of the Majlis’ National Security Commission, announced that the issue of withdrawal from the NPT had been raised in Majlis, but “the final decision in this regard rests with the Supreme National Security Council.”

Tens of Thousands Rally in Brussels Marking the 60th Anniversary of the PMOI, Calling for a Free Iran

Sia Rajabi
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Tens of Thousands Rally in Brussels Marking the 60th Anniversary of the PMOI, Calling for a Free Iran

On September 6, 2025, tens of thousands of Iranians and NCRI supporters rallied in Brussels, Belgium, to celebrate the PMOI’s 60th anniversary. The event, organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), gathered international dignitaries including:

  • Mike Pence – Former U.S. Vice President
  • Guy Verhofstadt – Former Belgian Prime Minister
  • John Bercow – Former Speaker of the UK Parliament
  • Kris Van Dijck – Belgian MEP
  • Patrick Kennedy – Former U.S. Congressman
  • Alejo Vidal-Quadras – Former Vice President of the European Parliament

Maryam Rajavi’s Keynote

NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi called sixty years of PMOI struggle “sixty years without a single day or even an hour of pause.” Despite torture and executions, she declared: “The Shah fell, the mullahs will fall too.”

Tens of thousands of Iranians and NCRI supporters rallied in Brussels, Belgium
Tens of thousands of Iranians and NCRI supporters rallied in Brussels, Belgium

She said the movement “wants nothing for itself” but seeks “freedom and the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Iran,” stressing that “there is an alternative — well-organized, fully prepared, and perfectly qualified.”

Presenting her vision, she called for democracy, gender equality, secularism, and a republic based on human rights. Highlighting women’s leadership as “the foundation for the Iran of tomorrow,” she urged the West to “designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, enforce UN resolutions on the regime’s nuclear program, and support the Resistance Units.” She ended: “The time for uprising has arrived. You will liberate Iran. It can be done — and it must be done.”

Mike Pence

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence praised six decades of PMOI’s resilience: “Today, that movement — the PMOI — is stronger, more inspired, and more powerful than ever.”

Addressing Iranians inside the country, he said: “You are not alone. You are not forgotten. The day of your freedom is closer than ever.” He hailed the Resistance Units as “the driving engine of change, igniting uprisings and sustaining protests.”

Pence warned: “The greatest threat to this regime is not America, not Israel — it is the Iranian people themselves. We will not be silent. We will support the Resistance with everything we have.”

Guy Verhofstadt

Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said the massive rally proved “there is effectively a democratic alternative to the cruel and criminal mullahs’ regime.”

Iran News in Brief – September 7, 2025

He condemned decades of appeasement: “Talking to the regime about everything, even nuclear weapons, has only made things worse.” He urged Europe to adopt a new strategy based on three steps: designate the IRGC as terrorist, expand sanctions, and engage with the democratic opposition using Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan.

John Bercow

Former UK Parliament Speaker John Bercow called claims of “no alternative” to dictatorship “an abominable insult.” He dismissed monarchy: “We don’t mean some baby Shah… Not needed, not wanted, not of any use whatsoever.”

He praised NCRI’s strength, saying its Resistance Units are “greater in number, bigger in scale of activity, and superior in reach… than at any time.” He described Maryam Rajavi as one who has “sacrificed everything to serve the cause of a free Iran.” Closing, he pledged: “For as long as I have breath in my lungs, I will support the cause of freedom for Iran.”

Kris Van Dijck

Belgian MEP Kris Van Dijck praised Iranians fighting for freedom: “Wherever people have the courage to fight for human rights, I stand on their side.” He demanded release of political prisoners, condemned hostage-taking, and said, “We are pushing the EU to blacklist the IRGC.” He added: “My dream is your dream: a free Iran.”

Patrick Kennedy

Former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy praised decades of sacrifice: “Every single year, MEK members have been tortured, jailed, and murdered — but have they stopped? No, they haven’t.”

He warned: “Appeasement never gets us security. Appeasement invites fascism to prevail.” Framing the struggle as universal, he declared: “This isn’t just an Iranian issue. This is a human rights issue.” He closed: “President Kennedy said, ‘Ich bin ein Berliner.’ Today… I proudly say, ‘Man Irani hastam’ — I am Iranian.”

Alejo Vidal-Quadras

Former European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal-Quadras told the crowd: “You are not a fringe… You are the heartbeat of a nation.”

He praised Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, rejected monarchy, and highlighted the Resistance Units: “I have seen them inside Iran — fearless, challenging.” He pledged loyalty despite surviving an assassination attempt: “I will remain a proud soldier in your ranks all the way to a free Iran.”

Iranian Voices

Young supporter Andrin Mohseni said: “Sixty years later, the organization is stronger than ever. Today, it terrifies the regime.”

Farzaneh Hosseini honored her family’s sacrifices, saying, “Under Maryam Rajavi’s motto, ‘we can and we must,’ generations of women have risen to lead a movement daring to challenge the world’s most misogynistic regime.”

Vida Niktalean, an Iranian-German community leader, called PMOI “the national treasure of 90 million Iranians… poised to break every bond of this regime.”

The Brussels rally underscored growing international recognition of NCRI and PMOI as the democratic alternative to Iran’s regime. From global leaders to young activists, participants echoed Maryam Rajavi’s declaration: “Uprising and overthrow are on the way. You will liberate Iran. It can be done — and it must be done.”

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