Bipartisan U.S. figures endorse a secular, democratic Iran and urge support for the Iranian people’s right to self-determination
A broad coalition of former U.S. officials, military leaders, and policymakers has issued a powerful statement reaffirming support for the Iranian people’s struggle to establish a democratic and secular republic. The declaration frames the situation in Iran as a historic moment, rooted in universal principles of freedom and human rights.
Drawing on foundational American ideals, the statement recalls that “in one of the darkest hours of history, President Franklin Roosevelt announced four freedoms that are the birthright of all people throughout the world: of expression, of worship, from want, and from fear.” These freedoms, the signatories emphasize, remain systematically denied to the Iranian population.
The statement underscores that Iran’s modern political trajectory has repeatedly derailed democratic aspirations. It notes that “the Iranian quest for democracy… was again hijacked, this time by the religious extremists who remain in power to this day.” This framing positions the current regime not as a legitimate continuation of popular will, but as an obstruction to it.
Highlighting ongoing repression, the signatories point to decades of systemic human rights violations. They state unequivocally: “Since 1979, Iranians have not been able to exercise their basic human rights of expression and worship, without risking arrest, imprisonment, torture, and death.” The statement also references the role of state institutions—including the Revolutionary Guard and intelligence services—in maintaining what it describes as a climate of fear and control.
Particular attention is given to recent events that have galvanized international concern. The death of Jina Mahsa Amini is cited as emblematic of state brutality, while the statement asserts that “the January 2026 protests… resulted in over 36,000 citizens killed,” underscoring the scale of violence attributed to the regime.
Despite this repression, the authors emphasize that the Iranian people continue to demand change. “We share the sentiments of millions of Iranians who have been protesting and calling for an end to totalitarian rule under the Ayatollahs,” the statement reads, aligning American support with grassroots movements inside the country.
Looking forward, the statement outlines a vision for Iran’s political future centered on democratic governance and constitutional reform. It calls for a system in which “a new Constitution must be developed to provide all citizens the four freedoms… [and] the rule of law should equally apply to all, regardless of ethnicity, religious preference, gender, or any other discriminating factor.”
The signatories identify the Ten-Point Plan proposed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran as a viable framework for transition. This plan advocates for “ending clerical rule, separation of church and state, equal rights and opportunity for all… and an Iran devoid of weapons of mass destruction.”
The statement also references growing political support in the United States, noting that a congressional resolution backing these principles has already attracted substantial bipartisan backing. It describes this effort as “expressing support for the Iranian people’s desires for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran, and condemning the Iranian regime’s terrorism… and internal suppression.”
Concluding on a strategic note, the authors argue that current conditions present a rare opportunity for change. “Not since 1979 have the Iranian people been in such a position of strength to take it back,” the statement asserts, urging Western governments to take a more decisive stance.
The final message is unambiguous: “The West must now back the democratic movement… America has a stake in their success, and we reiterate here our unwavering support to the cause of a Free Iran.”
The statement is signed by a wide range of senior former officials, reflecting a convergence of political, military, and diplomatic perspectives around the urgency of supporting democratic transformation in Iran.
