On the anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution, a major gathering of Iranians in Berlin framed the uprising inside Iran as both a reckoning with the past and a roadmap toward a democratic republic.
The large-scale gathering of Iranians in Berlin on February 7, held on the anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchical revolution, went far beyond a symbolic political demonstration. It effectively took the shape of an international tribunal—putting decades of tyranny on trial while outlining a concrete vision for Iran’s future. At a time when Iran is shaken by continuous uprisings, the message sent from Berlin to the international community was unmistakable: the era of clerical dictatorship is entering its final countdown.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) delivered a structured and analytical assessment of Iran’s current situation. Pointing to the persistence of nationwide protests and the expanding role of resistance networks inside the country, she argued that Iran’s ruling system has reached a historic dead end. According to her analysis, the post–January uprising phase marks the beginning of an irreversible process in which an exhausted, oppressive, and backward-looking force is being pushed out of Iran’s historical trajectory.
This assessment reflects realities on the ground. Fear barriers have visibly collapsed, and Iranian society is no longer willing to settle for partial or cosmetic reforms. What dominates public sentiment today is a demand for fundamental change.
Looking ahead, Mrs. Rajavi outlined the political model advocated by the Iranian Resistance. She described a future Iran as a democratic republic inspired by the legacy of Mohammad Mossadegh, founded on the separation of religion and state, recognition of national and ethnic autonomy, rejection of nuclear weapons, and peaceful coexistence with the international community.
One of the most significant political dimensions of the Berlin rally was its firm rejection of any return to past forms of dictatorship. Speakers and analysts emphasized that the 1979 revolution was ultimately hijacked by Khomeini’s current, and warned that remnants of the former monarchy are now attempting to exploit the bloodshed of today’s uprisings to reverse the course of history. The Berlin message was clear: history will not be rolled back under any pretext.
In this context, Rajavi reiterated a longstanding warning rooted in the positions of Massoud Rajavi. She stressed that anyone who imagines they can appropriate Iran’s emerging democratic revolution—much as earlier revolutions were derailed and drowned in blood—fundamentally misunderstands both the Iranian people and the nature of the current struggle. This stance, encapsulated in the principle of “neither Shah nor Mullahs,” was presented as the political manifesto of the Resistance’s independence. It underscores a decisive rejection of trading one form of authoritarianism for another.
The Berlin gathering was therefore not merely commemorative; it functioned as a political action plan. In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Rajavi urged the international community to move beyond rhetorical support and adopt tangible measures. These include formally recognizing the Iranian people’s right to overthrow the regime, acknowledging the role of youth and resistance units, shutting down regime embassies, and expelling operatives linked to the Revolutionary Guards operating under diplomatic cover.
From the streets of Iran to the packed squares of Berlin, a single message resonated: the age of decaying rulers is over. The countdown to change is not a slogan or metaphor—it is the echo of a nation determined to reclaim its future through a free and democratic republic.
