A five-pillar strategy outlines how regime change, transitional governance, and democratic reconstruction could unfold without foreign intervention
On Sunday, March 15, Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), addressed an online conference attended by hundreds of prominent international political figures. In her remarks, she presented what she described as the “architecture of democracy in Iran”—a structured roadmap for regime change, transitional governance, and the establishment of a democratic republic.
She opened with a sharp critique of decades of international policy, arguing that over forty years of appeasement toward the ruling establishment had ultimately paved the way for war. Reaffirming the core message of the resistance movement, she stressed that the Iranian people seek peace and freedom, and that the only viable solution to the country’s crisis is regime change led by the people and their organized resistance.
At the center of her speech was a detailed five-component framework outlining both the mechanism of overthrow and the structure of the resistance movement.
The first component is the existence of a democratic coalition: the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Described as a “parliament in exile,” this body forms the institutional backbone of the proposed provisional government. With more than 450 members representing diverse political tendencies—and notably, with women comprising half of its membership—it is presented as one of the most enduring and inclusive coalitions in Iran’s contemporary political landscape.
The second component focuses on the strategy of overthrow, particularly the dismantling of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Rajavi rejected the notion that meaningful political change could emerge from negotiations or foreign military intervention. Instead, she argued that historical experience has discredited theories of passive regime collapse or externally driven transformation, emphasizing the need for a capable force operating on the ground.
The third component highlights the role of organized resistance units across Iran. According to Rajavi, networks of resistance cells—referred to as “Resistance Units”—constitute the operational backbone of the movement. These decentralized structures, alongside what she termed a “liberation army,” are portrayed as the decisive force capable of confronting and ultimately dismantling the regime’s coercive apparatus.
The fourth component is the presence of a guiding organization to coordinate and sustain the struggle: the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). With a history spanning six decades and experience opposing both monarchical and clerical rule, the organization is described as the driving force behind the resistance, supported by a cadre of trained and experienced members.
Finally, the fifth component addresses the post-overthrow phase: the existence of a clear and actionable political program. Central to this is Rajavi’s ten-point plan, which she framed as the foundation for Iran’s democratic reconstruction. The immediate responsibility of the proposed provisional government, she explained, would be to transfer sovereignty to the Iranian people and establish a new national and democratic system of governance.
She acknowledged that this transition would be complex and demanding. Ensuring a stable and orderly transfer of power, restoring institutional functionality, and revitalizing the economy would require a highly experienced administrative framework. In this context, the provisional government is presented as benefiting from both the organizational capacity of the resistance movement and a broad network of qualified professionals inside Iran and across the diaspora, prepared to contribute to national reconstruction.
Taken together, the five components form a comprehensive blueprint—not only for overthrowing the current system, but for managing the critical transition period that follows. The emphasis throughout is on internal agency, organizational preparedness, and the rejection of both authoritarian continuity and foreign dependency.
