Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani argues that the NCRI and PMOI have spent nearly five decades preparing not only to overthrow Iran’s regime, but to ensure a stable democratic transition with a ready interim government and a comprehensive political roadmap.
One of the most persistent concerns raised whenever regime change is discussed is the possibility of a dangerous power vacuum. Policymakers and analysts often ask what would happen after the fall of an authoritarian government and whether instability or chaos would follow.
Addressing this question directly during his speech at the conference held in the Italian Parliament, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani argued that Iran is not facing a lack of alternatives. Instead, he maintained that the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) represent the only organized, experienced, and fully prepared democratic alternative capable of guiding the country through a peaceful transition.
Nearly Five Decades of Preparation
Giuliani stressed that the strength of the Iranian Resistance lies in decades of systematic planning rather than political rhetoric. According to him, while many opposition movements emerge without a clear roadmap for governing, the NCRI has spent approximately 47 years developing both a strategy to end the current dictatorship and a comprehensive plan for what comes afterward.
He argued that this long-term preparation distinguishes the movement from every other political alternative. Rather than focusing solely on removing the regime, the Resistance has invested decades in designing the institutions and mechanisms needed for a successful transition to democratic governance.
A Ready Interim Government and Democratic Roadmap
According to Giuliani, one of the Resistance’s greatest advantages is that it has already developed the legal and political framework necessary for governing during a transitional period.
He highlighted that Maryam Rajavi and the NCRI have established a prepared interim government and formulated a detailed democratic vision for post-regime Iran. He described Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as a comprehensive blueprint that guarantees fundamental civil liberties, democratic elections, equality before the law, and the protection of women’s rights.
Giuliani emphasized that such planning demonstrates that the movement is prepared not merely to replace the current rulers but to build democratic institutions capable of ensuring stability throughout the transition.
He also criticized what he described as the silence of many Western human rights advocates and mainstream feminist organizations regarding the Iranian regime’s systematic oppression of women. In contrast, he presented Rajavi’s democratic platform as a concrete response that places women’s equality at the center of Iran’s future political system.
Sacrifice Creates Political Legitimacy
Giuliani argued that political legitimacy cannot be established through speeches or media campaigns alone. Instead, he said, genuine leadership is earned through years of sacrifice and steadfast commitment alongside the people.
He pointed to the heavy price paid by the PMOI over decades of resistance, recalling the executions of thousands of its members and supporters, including the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. According to Giuliani, these sacrifices have given the movement both credibility and the moral authority required to lead a democratic transition.
He argued that public trust is earned only by organizations that have consistently demonstrated their commitment to freedom under the most difficult circumstances.
Rejecting Appeasement and Regime Disinformation
In the latter part of his remarks, Giuliani sharply criticized decades of Western engagement with Tehran, arguing that financial concessions and diplomatic accommodation have helped prolong the regime’s survival and its support for terrorism throughout the region.
He urged governments across Europe and the United States not to accept what he described as the Iranian regime’s extensive disinformation campaign against the PMOI and the NCRI. Instead, he called on democratic governments to recognize the organized opposition as the viable alternative capable of leading Iran toward democracy.
Giuliani argued that overcoming years of propaganda is essential if policymakers are to understand the true capabilities of the Iranian Resistance.
A Prepared Alternative for a Free Iran
Concluding his address, Giuliani rejected the common argument that no organized alternative exists to replace Iran’s ruling establishment.
He maintained that the NCRI and the PMOI stand apart because they combine decades of organizational experience with a prepared transitional government, a detailed democratic program, and a proven record of resilience under repression.
In his assessment, these elements make the Iranian Resistance uniquely positioned to manage the transition from dictatorship to democracy and offer what he described as the only practical and organized path toward a free and democratic Iran.
