In a message to Australian lawmakers, the NCRI President-elect calls for a decisive shift away from appeasement toward support for organized resistance and democratic transition in Iran
On March 25, 2026, Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), delivered a message to a conference attended by members of Australia’s parliament, federal senate, and state assemblies, outlining what she described as the only viable solution to Iran’s deepening crisis: regime change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.
Addressing lawmakers, Rajavi framed the current moment as a decisive turning point not only for Iran but for the broader region, which remains engulfed in escalating tensions and instability. She emphasized that neither foreign military intervention nor continued diplomatic appeasement has succeeded in resolving the Iranian crisis. Instead, she argued, both approaches have prolonged instability and emboldened the ruling establishment.
At the core of her message was a clear assertion: the overthrow of the current system through a nationwide uprising and organized resistance is the “antidote” to what she described as religious fascism governing Iran.
Message to the Conference Featuring Members of the Australian Parliament and Senate
Rajavi traced the roots of the current crisis to the early years following the establishment of the current Iranian regime, arguing that the ruling system deliberately chose repression over reform to maintain power. According to her, this strategy has relied on widespread executions, systemic human rights violations, the pursuit of nuclear capabilities, and the export of regional conflict and terrorism.
She pointed to the long-standing role of the Iranian Resistance in exposing these activities, including revelations about Tehran’s nuclear program over the past three decades. Despite these warnings, she criticized Western governments for pursuing a policy of appeasement, which she argued effectively prolonged the regime’s survival by limiting support for opposition movements.
Rajavi highlighted that over four decades, multiple opportunities for political transformation in Iran were missed, in part due to international reluctance to support democratic opposition forces. She reiterated that recent developments in 2025 and 2026 have demonstrated the failure of external military solutions, noting that bombardment and war have neither brought peace nor neutralized the threats posed by Tehran.
Rejecting any reliance on foreign intervention, Rajavi stressed that the Iranian Resistance does not seek financial or military assistance, nor the deployment of foreign troops. Instead, she called for political recognition and legitimacy for a movement she says is rooted in the will of the Iranian people.
Central to this alternative is the NCRI’s vision for a transitional government. Established in 1981, the coalition presents itself as a broad-based political platform representing diverse ideological and political currents. Rajavi outlined its plan for a provisional government tasked with transferring sovereignty to the Iranian people and organizing free elections.
This transition framework is grounded in the NCRI’s Ten-Point Plan, which proposes the establishment of a democratic republic based on the separation of religion and state, gender equality, abolition of the death penalty, recognition of minority rights, and a commitment to a non-nuclear Iran coexisting peacefully within the international community.
Rajavi also warned against what she described as efforts to reintroduce monarchical rule through media and digital platforms. Referring to supporters of the former Shah, she argued that such movements seek to appropriate popular protests while offering a return to authoritarian governance under a different form.
She emphasized that the Iranian people—particularly women and ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, and Turkmen—are demanding fundamental rights and democratic governance, not a revival of past systems of repression.
In her closing remarks, Rajavi called on Australian lawmakers to play a leading role in reshaping Western policy toward Iran. She acknowledged recent steps taken by Australia, including diplomatic and security measures against Tehran, as important signals. However, she stressed that these actions would only achieve strategic impact if accompanied by formal recognition of the NCRI’s proposed transitional authority.
Her message ultimately framed the Iranian question as a test of international political will: whether democratic nations will continue policies she described as ineffective, or align themselves with what she calls a viable, people-driven alternative for Iran’s future.
