Maryam Rajavi claims ‘regime change is within reach’ in Iran

As President Donald Trump’s historic ceasefire takes effect in Iran, the main Iranian opposition groups are verbally fighting it out to persuade Iranians that they are most capable of taking over from the mullahs. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), answered questions on the group’s positions and policies that she hopes will lead the Iranian people to rise up against the regime.

Rajavi leads the controversial group, which is affiliated with Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). Once listed as a terrorist organization in the U.S., the group was taken off the list in 2012 and is credited with first exposing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

In the interview, Rajavi expressed her belief that regime change in Iran is not just a possibility but a historical imperative. She emphasized that the Iranian people are discontented with the current regime and are willing to pay the highest price for their freedom. Rajavi pointed to the numerous popular uprisings in Iran in recent years as evidence of the people’s desire to end the current regime.

The NCRI offers the Iranian people a democratic and inclusive alternative, according to Rajavi. She outlined a vision for a republic based on the separation of religion and state, complete gender equality, respect for the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and the abolition of the death penalty. The Ten-Point Plan presented by Rajavi 19 years ago provides a roadmap for a free and just Iran.

Rajavi also highlighted the role of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in the resistance against the regime. She emphasized the group’s commitment to democratic values and gender equality, with women playing significant roles within the MEK for over three decades.

Addressing criticisms that the NCRI is unpopular among ordinary Iranians, Rajavi pointed to the regime’s extensive demonization campaign against the opposition. She argued that the regime’s fear of the NCRI’s influence and impact is evident in its actions, including targeting resistance members both inside and outside Iran.

Rajavi’s message to President Trump and world leaders is clear: regime change in Iran is achievable by the Iranian people and their organized resistance. She called for international support for the Iranian people’s right to self-determination and recognition of the Resistance Units’ struggle against the regime.

In response to calls for unity among opposition groups, Rajavi emphasized the NCRI’s readiness to cooperate with all political groups committed to democracy, human rights, secularism, and a republican form of governance. She dismissed the idea of alliance with monarchists, stating that monarchy has no place in Iran and that any association with remnants of the Shah only benefits the regime.

Overall, Rajavi’s interview with Fox News Digital sheds light on the NCRI’s vision for a free and democratic Iran and its ongoing efforts to mobilize the Iranian people against the current regime. As tensions in the region continue to escalate, the question of regime change in Iran remains a central issue for the international community.