Global dignitaries rally behind the NCRI provisional government for a free Iran

2026-03-07 - 18:43

While Iran is at a critical juncture, an important international conference convened, bringing together renowned policymakers, former heads of state, human rights advocates, and international lawmakers. Titled “Iran at a Crossroads: Supporting the NCRI Provisional Government Based on Its Ten-Point Plan,” the conference centered on a decisive political initiative: the February 28 declaration of a Provisional Government by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). With the death of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the rapid disintegration of the regime’s security apparatus, the conference provided a platform for global leaders to evaluate the human rights conditions in Iran, the legacy of political prisoners, the ongoing operations of the PMOI Resistance Units, and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. The overarching theme of the summit was clear: the international community must immediately recognize the NCRI’s Provisional Government to prevent political fragmentation and ensure the definitive rejection of both the mullahs’ religious tyranny and the deposed dictatorship of the Shah. The conference comes at a time that the landscape of Iranian politics has been irrevocably altered. In late December 2025 and early January 2026, a nationwide uprising swept across hundreds of cities, shaking the foundational pillars of the theocratic regime. The ruling clerics responded with characteristic brutality, killing thousands of protesters in a desperate, bloody crackdown. Yet, the momentum of the Iranian people could not be extinguished. Furthermore, on February 28, 2026, military strikes by the United States and Israel targeted the regime. During these strikes, the regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and numerous senior regime officials were killed. Maryam Rajavi’s Vision for a Democratic Transition During her keynote address, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the NCRI, outlined a clear roadmap for Iran’s democratic transition, asserting that the country’s political future must remain exclusively in the hands of the Iranian people. She emphasized that the newly announced provisional government is the definitive safeguard against any power vacuum or regression to authoritarianism. Online conference in support for the announcement of the Provisional Government by the NCRI based on its Ten-Point Plan- Now is the time to recognize the struggle of the Iranian people, the Resistance Units, and the Liberation Army against the Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) to... pic.twitter.com/LydTBcHS5k — Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) March 7, 2026 “The announcement of the provisional government, whose history dates back to October 1981, guarantees democracy and people’s sovereignty after the overthrow of the mullahs’ religious dictatorship in opposition to all efforts aimed at continuing a religious dictatorship or returning to a dependent dictatorship,” Rajavi stated. Highlighting the immediate policy requirements for the international community, she urged global powers to recognize the Iranian people’s legitimate struggle, shut down regime embassies acting as terror and espionage hubs, and pressure the remnants of the regime to release all political prisoners. Furthermore, she stressed the absolute necessity of protecting civilian lives and infrastructure amidst the ongoing military strikes. Highlighting the intersection of Iran’s internal freedom with global security, Rajavi noted, “Supporting the democratic alternative is not only standing with the Iranian people’s desires, but it is also necessary for the fight against terrorism and for establishing peace and stability in the region and the world.” Support for the NCRI’s Provisional Government A central focus of the conference was the robust international endorsement of the NCRI’s Provisional Government, which was formally announced on February 28. Speakers underscored that the transition period following a regime collapse is fraught with peril, making an organized, legitimate, and widely supported interim authority essential to prevent chaos. General James Jones, former US National Security Advisor, articulated the historical gravity of the moment, noting that the events unfolding in Iran mark the end of a system that has held the nation hostage for nearly half a century. He called for immediate diplomatic action, stating, “The international community and my own government must recognize this provisional government as the legitimate interim authority of Iran. As the roadmap clearly stipulates, this government will guide the country during a transitional period until free elections are held for a National Legislative and Constituent Assembly, which will draft the constitution of the Democratic Republic.” Former Colombian Senator and presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt echoed this urgency. She noted that moments of regime collapse can easily produce disorder if not guided by an organized alternative. She praised the NCRI’s initiative as a responsible and structured pathway, stating, “The NCRI proposal offers precisely that: a transitional authority capable of managing this decisive period while ensuring that sovereignty is transferred peacefully to the Iranian people. According to its program... free and fair elections would be held within six months and power would be transferred to the legitimate representatives chosen by the people.” Key highlights from March 5, 2026, online conference "Iran at Crossroads": Global leaders endorse the #NCRIAlternative as the organized path to a democratic republic. Recognition for NCRI's provisional government to transfer sovereignty to the Iranian people in #FreeIran2026. pic.twitter.com/I2mCm5T3wR — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 6, 2026 The political momentum behind the Provisional Government is rapidly translating into legislative support across Western democracies. Christine Arrighi, a member of the French National Assembly, revealed the staggering pace at which international backing is growing. “I am pleased to inform you that over the last 72 hours, more than 470 parliamentarians have signed a declaration supporting the provisional government of the National Council of Resistance [of Iran],” Arrighi noted. She emphasized that these parliamentarians cross political party lines globally and called upon the French government to establish direct relations with the provisional authority. Former US Senator Robert Torricelli highlighted the inclusive nature of the NCRI’s framework, pointing out that it is designed to welcome any Iranian who seeks a free and democratic state. “The Provisional Government established by the NCRI and Mrs. Rajavi is the framework. It is all-inclusive,” Torricelli observed. “The only rules are: no clerics from this regime and no dictators from the previous regime. No kings, no clerics.” He stressed that the NCRI is uniquely positioned to fill the current political vacuum because it possesses the required professionals, resources, and international credibility. The Need for a Tough Policy on Iran’s Regime and the IRGC With the regime in its death throes, international experts at the conference argued that the global community must not falter. Ambassador Robert Joseph, former US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, framed the military strikes as the inevitable culmination of decades of regime aggression. He pointed out that the regime has been functionally at war with the United States since the revolution was hijacked 47 years ago. “Murder and violence are in the DNA of the regime. Perhaps even more important, the pursuit of nuclear weapons is also in the regime’s DNA,” Ambassador Joseph stated. He asserted that “if this regime is allowed to reconstitute in any form, it will seek a fast track to a nuclear weapon to ensure its survival.” Former FBI Director Louis Freeh sent a stark warning to the surviving members of the Iranian security forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): “We’ve been sending the message to the law enforcement and security services in Iran: those of you who survive this war will be brought to justice. You will be held accountable. Even as we speak tonight, the NCRI and other organizations are putting together criminal files and will be able to organize and support charges against you for the most serious crimes against humanity.” Important conference today: Iran at a Crossroads: Supporting the NCRI Provisional Government Based on Its Ten-Point Plan#OurChoiceMaryamRajavi #Iran #NCRIAlternative https://t.co/xow2X3dqSL — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 5, 2026 Support for holding regime officials accountable was echoed by Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former Justice Minister of Germany. Reflecting on the bloody crackdown during the January uprising and the current state of conflict, she stated, “As a former Justice Minister and as an active lawyer, I would really be very glad if some of the criminals of the mullahs’ regime, including the justice machine, were brought before the International Criminal Court.” David Jones, former UK Secretary of State for Wales, outlined specific policy actions that Western governments must take immediately to dismantle the remnants of the regime’s power structure. He issued a direct appeal to the British government: “The UK should move without delay, as we have been calling for many years, to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.” He further demanded that the regime’s embassies be closed and its diplomats declared persona non grata. Support for the NCRI, the Ten-Point Plan, and the Third Option As the prospect of a free Iran moves from theoretical to imminent, the conference highlighted Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as the foundational blueprint for the new democratic republic. The plan represents a “Third Option”—a path that relies neither on foreign boots on the ground to govern Iran, nor on appeasing the current dictatorship, but rather empowers the Iranian people through their organized resistance. Former UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox warned of the risks of political and geographical fragmentation in a post-Khamenei Iran, recalling how the 1979 revolution was hijacked by religious extremists. To prevent history from repeating itself, Fox championed the Ten-Point Plan as the ultimate unifying framework. He detailed its comprehensive nature, highlighting its call for “An end [to] oppressive theocracy; the introduction of universal suffrage and pluralism; freedom of speech; freedom of political parties; [and] freedom of religion and the separation of religion and the state.” Fox also commended the plan’s strict commitment to gender equality, an independent judiciary, and a non-nuclear state living under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, former Vice President of the European Parliament, spoke of the “double pressure” that has brought the regime to its knees—the internal uprisings and external diplomatic and military action. He urged European nations to abandon passive observation and actively endorse the democratic alternative. He called on the European Union to “recognize and support the Interim Government of Iran based on the Ten-Point Plan” proposed by Mrs. Rajavi. “We need strong political action by the European Union,” he said. Ola Elvestuen, former Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, reinforced that the Ten-Point Plan is not merely a political proposal, but a vital mechanism for preserving Iran’s unity and securing human rights. He asserted that the plan addresses the diverse fabric of Iranian society. “It has all the basic values in it: that you have free elections within the next six months, gender equality, and the separation of state and religion,” Elvestuen noted, emphasizing that support for this democratic future encompasses all ethnic groups in Iran, including the Kurds, Baluchs, and Azeris. David Jones added that the momentum behind this vision is undeniable, pointing out that the Ten-Point Plan has already garnered the endorsement of more than 4,000 parliamentarians across the globe and over 125 former heads of state and government. Support for the PMOI Resistance Units The driving force behind the internal collapse of the regime has been the relentless, organized struggle of the PMOI Resistance Units on the ground inside Iran. Throughout the nationwide uprising in January 2026, and even amidst the bloody crackdowns and foreign military strikes, these units have maintained operational tempo, targeting the regime’s centers of suppression and signaling to the populace that an organized opposition is ready to lead. Maryam Rajavi highlighted the strategic importance of these forces, noting that in recent days, they have increased their activities. “These activities carry an important message: there is an active force on the ground in Iran,” she stated. “It is organized and capable of organizing. It is willing to make sacrifices, and in combination with the uprising, it can achieve the overthrow of this regime.” General James Jones saluted the resilience of these underground networks. “Even in these perilous days and nights when bombs fall and the regime unleashes terror, they continue their struggle with remarkable determination and bravery,” he said, affirming that the Resistance Units prove Iran’s fate will be decided by the Iranian people themselves. #Breaking : March 3—Iran PMOI Resistance Units across Iran carry out 30 operations, targeting the regime's centers of repression and corruption in support of the Provisional Government declared by the NCRI.#NCRIAlternative #No2ShahNo2Mullahs pic.twitter.com/COWoUR3Yr6 — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 5, 2026 Ingrid Betancourt provided a detailed analysis of the PMOI’s structural role within the broader resistance. She identified the PMOI as the principal member and the “backbone of the organized resistance.” Pointing to recent tactical successes, she observed, “Recent confrontations attributed to Resistance Units, including actions targeting highly secure locations linked to the leadership compounds of Ali Khamenei, have illustrated the growing vulnerability of the regime’s power centers.” Betancourt stressed that the Resistance Units demonstrate that opposition to the theocracy is not merely ideological, but operational, providing the necessary foundation for a people-led transition. The Rejection of Both the Shah and Mullahs’ Regimes As the current theocracy crumbles, a significant portion of the conference was dedicated to dismantling the false narrative that the alternative to the mullahs is a return to the monarchical dictatorship of the Pahlavi dynasty. Speakers systematically dismantled the credentials of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed Shah, framing his promotion as a dangerous distraction that ultimately benefits the remnants of the clerical regime. John Bercow, former Speaker of the British House of Commons, delivered a scathing critique of the “Son of Shah” narrative. He expressed his sheer astonishment that Pahlavi could be considered a serious alternative, calling it “an act of the most breathtaking presumption and arrogance.” Bercow outlined five distinct reasons why Pahlavi is unqualified to lead: he is known only by his inherited name from a bloodthirsty tyrant; he lacks any base within Iran; he has zero track record of public service, having lived a life of wealth and leisure in the US for 45 years; he has alienated minorities by referring to Kurds as separatists; and crucially, he has made absolutely no sacrifice for the freedom of the Iranian people. “This man is not a leader; he’s the son of a monarch. He has a feudal claim but no democratic claim,” Bercow concluded. Ambassador Robert Joseph echoed this sentiment, characterizing Pahlavi as skilled in public relations and self-promotion but lacking any tangible grassroots support inside the country. He reminded the international community of the historical context: “Remember that the 1979 revolution was aimed at overthrowing another corrupt and brutal regime, his father’s.” Louis Freeh was equally dismissive of the monarchist faction, warning against allowing the “inheritors of SAVAK”—the Shah’s notorious secret police—to infiltrate Iran’s future. “We don’t need the inheritors of SAVAK to come in and pretend to be leaders without imagination, tied back to another terror regime that’s long gone and will offer nothing to the people of Iran,” Freeh stated. André Chassaigne, former French MP, cautioned governments against falling for “deceptive propaganda” that seeks to recycle the current dictatorship or birth a former one. He urged clarity and solidarity in promoting the true alternative that has been built over decades of sacrifice, rather than a regression to past tyrannies. Support for the Iranian People’s Protests and Their Vision for the Rejection of All Forms of Tyrannies The backdrop to the political transition is the immense sacrifice made by the Iranian people, particularly during the explosive uprisings of December 2025 and January 2026. The protests, which spanned all 31 provinces, demonstrated a profound societal consensus. The citizens of Iran are not looking backward; they are looking toward a democratic republic. David Jones honored the courage of the protesters, particularly highlighting the role of Iranian youth and women. “Across all the 31 provinces of Iran, we have seen remarkable determination from young people, from the Resistance Units, and especially, I think, from the brave women and girls who have so often stood at the forefront of the Iranian struggle for freedom,” he remarked, identifying their resilience as the core engine driving the current historical shift. Senator Torricelli pointed out that with the regime’s infrastructure burning, the burden of shaping the future is shifting directly onto the shoulders of the Iranian citizens in the streets, in their businesses, and within the military. He challenged those still within the regime’s ranks to choose a side, noting that history will ask them where they stood when the clerics fell. “A democratic government has to start with democratic people,” he emphasized. Liam Fox directed his message explicitly to the youth of Iran, urging them to seize their historical birthright. “You, the next generation, must accept no oppressors, you must accept no autocracy, [and] you must accept no dictatorships,” he declared, reinforcing that the destiny of the nation belongs solely to its people. Ingrid Betancourt beautifully summarized the socio-political demands echoing through the streets and universities of Iran during the uprisings. She noted that the chants of the protesters leave no room for misinterpretation. “During [the] recent uprising and student protests, one of the most widely heard slogans has been ‘Death to the oppressor, whether Shah or Supreme Leader.’ Another very powerful chant across universities has been ‘Neither Shah nor Mullahs, long live freedom and democracy,'” Betancourt stated.