Thousands mobilise in New York to demand a free Iran

1. Demonstration by Iranian-Americans in front of the UN
2. Protest against the presence of the Iranian regime's president at the UN
3. Messages and slogans from the protests
4. Speech by Maryam Rajavi and call for overthrow
5. Secret nuclear activity and mass executions

Demonstration by Iranian-Americans in front of the UN

In a powerful show of solidarity over two days (23 and 24 September) in front of the United Nations headquarters, thousands of Iranian-Americans, supporters of the Iranian Resistance and international figures demanded an end to the Iranian dictatorship, expressing their support for a democratic alternative.

They also denounced the participation of the president of the Iranian regime, Masoud Pezeshkian, in the UN General Assembly, sending a resounding message that the future of Iran belongs to its people, not to the mullahs or a monarchy.

Condemnation of the Iranian regime's president's presence at the UN

Crowds carried banners with the slogan ‘No to the shah, no to the mullahs — yes to a democratic republic,’ while speakers from the United States, Europe and the Iranian diaspora denounced the regime's record of executions, regional aggression and nuclear deception. The demonstrators rallied around the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its president-elect Maryam Rajavi, whose ten-point plan calls for a secular, democratic and non-nuclear republic in Iran.

Addressing the protesters, Ms. Rajavi praised the perseverance of Iranians abroad who gather each year to protest. She said their voice represents the true voice of the Iranian people to the international community.

Messages and slogans of the protests

‘The message is very simple and clear,’ she declared. "Overthrow and democratic change — a democratic republic with freedom and democratic rights. We want neither a mullah nor a shah. The era of all forms of dictatorship, whether religious or monarchical, is over. Our message for the future of Iran is simple: sovereignty of the people — the people's republic."

Mrs Rajavi highlighted the NCRI's track record in exposing Tehran's secret nuclear activities. Over the past 23 years, the NCRI has brought to light 133 aspects of the regime's weapons programme that were previously unknown.

Secret Nuclear Activity and Mass Executions

She also condemned the unprecedented scale of executions under the presidency of Pezeshkian, noting that 1,817 people had been executed in just 14 months. She pointed out that these crimes constitute crimes against humanity and demand accountability before an international court.

Warning that Tehran will never renounce its nuclear ambitions, Mrs Rajavi stressed that Europe had been forced to invoke the ‘snapback’ clause at the last minute. She urged the international community to abandon the policy of appeasement and recognise the right of the Iranian people to resist tyranny. She underscored the crucial role of the Resistance Units of the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran (PMOI/MEK) inside the country, describing its members as ‘Iran's most alert and vigilant fighters’ and asserting that they embody the spirit of the nation's uprisings.