On April 4, 2025, the National Conference for Resistance of Iran (NCRI) U.S. office in Washington, D.C., hosted a vibrant Nowruz celebration, marking the Persian New Year with a gathering of distinguished guests, Iranian-Americans, and bipartisan American dignitaries. The event underscored the NCRI’s ongoing efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Iran, as highlighted in a speech by a representative of the NCRI U.S. office. The celebration reflected hope and solidarity, with warm wishes for joy, hope, and prosperity extended to the people of Iran and advocates of democracy in the U.S., emphasizing the shared vision for a free and democratic Iran.
Remarks by Seena Saiedian
Good evening and happy Nowruz.
I’m delighted to be in the company of such wonderful friends and distinguished guests to celebrate the Iranian New Year, a time which as our guests have alluded to is a time of renewal, of rebirth, and above all of hope.
Nowruz reminds us that even after the harshest winters, spring always comes, and today the people of Iran, especially its courageous young generation are fighting to usher in their own spring through a new dawn of freedom and democracy and a rebirth of Iranian civilization.
I was born and raised in the United States. I’ve never had the opportunity to set foot in Iran, yet my heart lies with the Iranian people. Because the struggle of freedom is a human one that transcends borders, and as long as there are young Iranians risking their lives to say no to their dictatorship and fight for a free future, I and thousands of other young Iranian Americans will proudly be standing with them to amplify their voices.
Now when discussing regime change, one of the questions that often looms large is what comes next.
I think the fear of chaos and of an uncertain future is a weapon that is often wielded by the regime and its apologists to put out the flames of revolution.
But despite the mullahs’ futile attempts to delay the inevitable, change is truly on the horizon.
And fortunately, Iran has a well -organized and a time-tested alternative in the form of the National Council of Resistance of Iran that is ready to pave the way to a secular and a democratic republic.
The now ubiquitous call for regime change that we hear echoing in the streets of Iran was not one that was borne out in a single moment of time. Rather, as we all know, it is the result of more than four decades of tireless resistance, which the NCRI has consistently been at the forefront of.
Now, while I have never had the opportunity to visit Iran, I’ve had the privilege to get to know the young leaders who are leading this fight in the Iranian opposition. And I have deep admiration for their commitment, their courage, and their true care for securing freedom and democracy for their brothers and sisters in Iran.
Now, what sustains the Iranian people’s hope is the knowledge that this alternative exists. It’s not just a vague dream. It’s not just platitudes. But it’s a structured, capable organization with broad-based support and with a clear vision for a transition plan to bring about freedom and true democratic elections in Iran.
The NCRI has laid down the groundwork for a democratic future, advocating for basic fundamental principles that we take for granted here in America. Things like democratic governance, gender equality, economic freedoms, and the separation of church and state.
This platform is not one that is tied to any particular religion or ethnicity or even a political ideology, but rather universal human values that bind Iranians together across generations and across social backgrounds towards a common vision of freedom.
And while some have pursued this fantasy of reform, the NCRI has always been clear-eyed about its mission since day one of Khomeini’s reign in 1979, rejecting all forms of dictatorship, be it the Shah or be it the theocracy, and to establish a secular and democratic republic in Iran.
And in this principled stand, the Iranian resistance has faced the most brutal repression imaginable. Indeed, both the Shah and the mullahs have tried every means of destroying the flames of freedom, killing tens of thousands of MEK supporters over the years.
Yet the NCRI and the Iranian people’s spirited care for freedom has endured. And the young men and women marching in the streets today are the heirs of that legacy, with the same resolve, the same hope, the same unshakeable belief in freedom that started over 40 years ago and has prevailed today.
Now, after each wave of nationwide uprisings, the regime has time and time again flooded the zone with its operatives acting as fake opposition figures.
First, we had the so -called reformists in the Green Movement. More recently, we’ve seen the son of a deposed Shah emerging out of nowhere, parading around with his who’s who of ex-regime insiders and opportunistic celebrities, yet Iranians are not falling for this charade. Because we know these fake opposition figures, they’re nothing more than a dedicated force to divide the Iranian people, to distract the international community, and blow out the flames of change. But we’re not falling for this anymore.
Indeed, the future of Iran will ultimately be determined by the people of Iran. But I think we must not forget the crucial role that the NCRI and MEK have played in laying down an intellectual framework for freedom and democracy that is being echoed in the streets today by new generations of activists every single day.
And I want to close on this by saying that this is why I support the NCRI. Not just because it’s fighting against the Mullahs, but because it stands for something greater than that. A future where Iran belongs to its people, where its youth can dream freely about a better future and where no generation has to live in fear of oppression again.
We joke sometimes, we always say, “Next year in Tehran,” but at this time I truly believe it. I think the regime’s days are numbered, and I think when this final blow is struck, it will be because generations of Iranians, both inside and outside the country, refuse to surrender. And more importantly, I think now is the time for the administration to help bring about this righteous day by applying maximum pressure on the regime in Tehran and recognizing the Iranian resistance’s legitimate right to overthrow the dictators and chart a democratic future for themselves.
I think there is a bright future ahead of us. I’m grateful for all of you. Thank you and Happy Nowruz