January 1, Iranian Resistance Leader Shares Vision for Change

Wyatt’s Take

• Iran’s opposition says the current uprising is unified and widespread.
• Maryam Rajavi claims true change can only come from the Iranian people.
• The National Council for Resistance of Iran promises a quick, democratic transition if the regime falls.

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of Iran’s opposition council, says today’s protests are more organized and wide-reaching than past movements. She argues that this moment is different from previous uprisings because it includes all walks of life from across Iran’s 31 provinces.

“Unlike the 2022 uprising, which was sparked by the regime’s killing of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini and initially revolved around the issue of compulsory hijab, and unlike the November 2019 uprising, which was triggered by the shock of gasoline price hikes, today’s uprising is not tied to a single incident or a specific, short-term demand. This movement is the product of a long accumulation of anger, political awareness, and collective will for regime change. It is therefore not a transient explosion, but a conscious movement with an explicitly overthrow-oriented character.”

Rajavi explains that this effort is bigger than any single event or group—it’s a build-up of anger and awareness driving a push for real change. She says everyone from workers to students to merchants is involved, unlike in prior years.

Asked what’s needed to topple the regime, Rajavi says,

“The developments of recent months have clearly demonstrated a fundamental truth: although the regime ruling Iran has been seriously weakened and has suffered heavy blows, it will not collapse automatically under the weight of its own failures. This dictatorship will not be overthrown by foreign pressure or by decisions made in world capitals. As I have repeatedly stressed, change in Iran can only be achieved by the Iranian people themselves, through an organized, nationwide resistance present on the ground—one capable of confronting one of the most brutal repression machines of our time.”

Rajavi credits the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) as the core force for change. She notes that over 100,000 MEK members and supporters have been executed over the decades, signaling the group’s lasting commitment and sacrifice for Iranian freedom.

“More than 100,000 of its members and supporters have been executed or killed under torture, including 30,000 political prisoners hanged in the 1988 massacre solely for remaining loyal to the MEK. This price is the proof of the resistance’s historical legitimacy and the depth of its roots in Iranian society.”

The resistance movement, according to Rajavi, is set up with a ready-made plan for what comes after the regime’s downfall. She says the National Council of Resistance of Iran would put a temporary government in place and hold free elections within six months to form a new assembly dedicated to writing a constitution.

Their goal is a government grounded in gender equality, religious freedom, regional self-rule, a fair justice system, and political plurality. This vision is supported by experts inside and outside Iran and has international backing.

Rajavi says,

“We are not seeking power nor a share of power. We fight and we sacrifice so that the Iranian people can attain their freedom. We want to return sovereignty to its rightful owners: the people of Iran.”

Any change, she warns, will be built by Iranians standing together, not outsiders. She’s confident that with roots in Iran’s own culture and values, citizens will have the tools to reclaim freedom, if given the chance.

If you care about freedom and the will of the people, keep an eye on what happens next in Iran.

Wyatt Matters

The story shows the power of everyday citizens fighting for change. Middle America knows the value of standing up for your rights, and this push from the Iranian people proves that freedom isn’t handed down—it’s taken by those willing to work and sacrifice for a better future.

Read the full interview