Even without active conflict, Iranians are deprived of true peace, living under a regime that dictates their personal and public lives.

Their peace is shattered by torture and the ever-present threat of violence. It’s undermined by a corrupt economy, the burden of sanctions, daily worries about inflation, scarcity, unemployment, and the ongoing degradation of Iran’s environment.

Peace isn’t just the absence of war; it’s the foundation for democracy, stability, economic growth, social progress, and a functional civil society. However, people in Iran are caught between the regime’s internal repression and potential conflict between the Iranian and Israeli governments.

Dictatorship and war are intertwined, as pro-democracy and peace activists emphasized in condemning the conflict. They advocated for a new political structure: a secular, democratic government genuinely representing the Iranian people, a free and fair referendum overseen by the UN, and the creation of a new constitution by an elected assembly. They proposed clear, legal methods for a peaceful transition, based on international law and Iran’s democratic hopes.

Their collective stance demonstrates a broad national movement, rooted in civil society, human and women’s rights, and Iran’s diverse democratic traditions, capable of guiding the country toward historic change. This transition must be peaceful, based on dialogue, accountability, justice, and respect for universal human rights, as anything less—collapse, chaos, or armed conflict—would endanger millions in an already unstable region.

Iranians have consistently demonstrated support for democratic movements. The country has always been diverse, encompassing a range of ethnicities, languages, and beliefs. Despite differences and political disagreements, Iranians have maintained traditions of coexistence, mutual respect, and community.

They have made it clear that the regime has lost its legitimacy. For over four decades, Iranians have pursued peaceful, democratic change, from women’s marches to the Green Movement of 2009, the November 2019 protests, and the recent uprising following Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death. The ongoing resistance of women and youth has become the Islamic Republic’s biggest problem, with those the regime tried to silence becoming its strongest opponents.

Iran is already in a state of transition, but transitions can take various paths. The Iranian people have shown remarkable courage, enduring imprisonment, censorship, surveillance, violence, and the loss of loved ones, yet they continue to fight non-violently. Violence, whether internal or external, is not the solution. They seek recognition, international solidarity, and peace, not intervention or foreign armies.

How can the world assist? Like any government, the Islamic Republic responds to pressure. Change in Iran requires global pressure to end human rights abuses, gender apartheid, and executions; to free political prisoners; and to enable civil society to function. The international community needs to rethink its approach to change in Iran and pave the way for a transition from authoritarianism to democracy.

My message: We are working to end religious despotism and facilitate the transition from authoritarianism to democracy. To achieve this, support Iran’s civil society, independent media, and human rights and women’s rights defenders who are building a just and democratic future for their country. With global solidarity, democracy and peace are attainable.

The people of Iran are ready. Stand with them.

“`