Iran must be rebuilt on the foundation of dignity, coexistence, and truth - opinion

Once again, the people of Iran have taken to the streets and shown the world their unlimited extraordinary courage, and a readiness to sacrifice everything, including their own lives.

This is not the first uprising. Since 2009, Iranians have repeatedly risen against the regime. Each time, the response has been brutally familiar. Mass arrests, torture, executions, and rivers of blood spilled to keep the system intact.

Every protest was met with violence, and every call for freedom was answered with bullets.

This time, however, the scale is different. What has unfolded is nothing short of a massacre in full view of the world.

Those who claim to be allies of the Iranian people must now confront an uncomfortable truth. Without serious international support and military intervention, the regime will not fall. This is something I have stated clearly and consistently, to the Knesset, two years ago, to the US Congress, the UK Parliament, the European Parliament or through interviews and publications thereafter.

For taking this stance, I was attacked and labeled with all sorts of accusations. Today, many of those same critics are apologizing and admitting that their understanding of the Islamic Republic was dangerously limited.

We have already seen many signs of what international solidarity means to the people of Iran.

The international community must now understand that Iranians are fighting for the safety and stability of the entire world, and are asking for concrete support, aimed at dismantling the centres of oppression that sustain the regime’s violence.

To disarm the oppressive forces of the Islamic Republic so that Iranians can reclaim their country without fear of being killed.

In the early days of this revolution, Khamenei himself stated that the regime was established on the blood of hundreds of thousands.

For those who understand the language of Khamenei, his statement was an order to kill, that blood must be shed in order to save the Islamic Republic from collapse. He has lived by those words. Protesters were gunned down at point-blank range by Basij, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and external forces from neighbouring terrorist proxies, using automatic weapons.

After days of killing and an eleven-day nationwide internet shutdown, Khamenei appeared publicly to shift blame, accusing Trump and Netanyahu of orchestrating the violence. The regime murders its own people, then blames foreign leaders for the blood on its hands.

The position of Khamenei and his regime is now unmistakably clear. Built on an antisemitic and anti-Western ideology, the regime stands openly against its own people. Khamenei has demonstrated that no matter how many must die, he will not relinquish power.

On the twenty-third day of the Iranian national revolution, he again blamed America and Israel and Netanyahu for the killings and vowed retaliation, further proving that the regime’s survival depends on perpetual violence and external scapegoats.

As the founder of Iran Front for the Revival of Law and National Sovereignty, a platform that does not affiliate itself with any political party or ideology, and as someone who has camped outside the UK Foreign Office for the past 1066 days, requesting the proscription of the IRGC, I am in constant contact with many leaders across Iran.

Iran Front is a hub where ethnic, religious, and political diversity is not only welcomed but an essential part of what is needed for a safe and legal transition towards a free and democratic Iran.

Over the years, the message from inside the country which we have received through field leaders has been consistent and that international support and decisive military action is necessary to bring an end to this dictatorship. Monarchists, the Mojahedin, republicans, left, right, secular, religious diversities, and ethnic groups all understand that no single faction or individual can carry this transition alone.

This is why it is vital that the international community does not place its weight behind one group or one individual. Instead, it must support a broad coalition of opposition leaders who together reflect the full diversity of Iran.

This is the central focus of Iran Front, because it is the only realistic path toward a peaceful transition to secularism and democracy. Many of Iran’s most capable, genius and visionary leaders are currently sitting in prison cells for daring to imagine a free country.

Following the fall of the regime and the establishment of a secular democratic system, Iran can become a stabilising force in the region and the world.

Iran should not seek dominance or ideological leadership, but normality. Respect for global standards, cooperation, and mutual security must be a key component of a safe transition from the current authoritarian regime to one that embodies all the human values we call for.

Finally, it is important to note that Iran Front has planned and is committed to a long-term cultural and educational scheme to eradicate the deep roots of antisemitism that this regime has embedded both domestically and beyond.

With the guidance of our experts in this field, this effort will be an essential part of rebuilding Iran as a nation based on dignity, coexistence, and truth.

For 47 years, this brutal regime has diverted the nation’s resources and wealth to fund terrorist proxies, export violence, and spread antisemitism.

We will redirect that same potential away from destruction and toward rebuilding the country, restoring peace and stability to the region, and promoting safety, security, and mutual respect around the world.