BEHIND THE IRAN HEADLINES Series, June 26, 2024, Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US Deputy Director
This Saturday, June 29th, a monumental event will unfold in Germany. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy supporters of the Iranian Resistance, united in their advocacy for a democratic, non-nuclear republic in Iran, are expected to gather in Berlin.
This rally, backed by a stellar array of distinguished speakers, will be a powerful testament to the global support for the Iranian people and their courageous uprisings against the clerical fascist regime.
On the heels of the political spectacle known as “elections” in Iran, a resounding message will echo from Berlin. This grand event, to be held a day after the sham presidential elections, is a stark reminder that the Iranian people and their unwavering uprisings are the true catalysts of democratic change, regardless of the engineered election’s outcome.
It is the same message voiced loud and clear by Iranians in their uprisings since 2017, accompanied by patriotic and forward-looking slogans such as “Down with the dictator” and “Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the supreme leader (Ali Khamenei).”
Mrs. Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, shortly after the announcement of Raisi’s death, described it as a strategic blow to Khamenei, setting in motion a chain of irreversible survival crises for his regime. She also foretold that the crisis of succession would, in turn, pave the ground for more opportunities for the Iranian people and their rebellious youth to rise. Since the sham election process began a few weeks ago, it has displayed unprecedented disarray within the regime.
Western capitals should heed the calls from inside Iran and from Berlin and end their devastating policy of appeasement toward Tehran. They should recognize the legitimate right of Iranians to overthrow the regime and dismantle its main instrument of survival, the IRGC.
Blacklisting the IRGC and firmly implementing all the ensuing punishments would be an effective and meaningful first step.