The Iranian regime stands at the precipice of collapse, battered by a cascade of crises that have exposed its fragility and inflamed a society poised for revolutionary upheaval. The depth of Iran’s internal maladies — economic ruin, social unrest, and political illegitimacy — reveals a theocracy teetering on the edge, ripe for transformative change led by a resilient resistance.

The period of 2024–2025 has delivered devastating blows to the ruling clerics. The death of President Ebrahim Raisi derailed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s vision of consolidating power through a so-called purification project. The regime’s legitimacy crumbled as 92% of Iranians boycotted its sham elections, a resounding rejection of its authority. 

Tehran’s regional influence imploded with the collapse of key proxies: Hezbollah, shattered after Hassan Nasrallah’s death, lost its grip on Lebanon as the country appointed a new president and prime minister, while the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria obliterated Iran’s strategic depth. The regime’s warmongering facade, cynically propped up after October 7, proved futile. 

Economically, Iran is in freefall. The rial’s collapse, recently exceeding one million to the dollar, symbolizes a broader disintegration fueled by sanctions and mismanagement. Soaring inflation has pushed over 25 million Iranians below the poverty line, with workers’ average salaries covering just one-third of the basic food needs for a family of three. 

Persistent blackouts cripple cities and industries. Gasoline imports highlight systemic failures, with production stagnating amid recession and energy scarcity. Water shortages threaten catastrophe — six major dams are nearly dry, with reserves at just 44%, a historic low. Essential medicines are scarce, and foreign investors are fleeing.

Equally awful, corruption thrives unabated, exemplified by a $3.4 billion tea embezzlement scandal and the mysterious disappearance of 61 tons of gold, while 20 million liters of diesel are smuggled daily. These failures fuel a revolutionary fervor that the regime can no longer contain.

Inside Iran, the resistance is thriving. Over 3,000 anti-repression strikes and 39,000 acts of revolutionary defiance by resistance units signal a society unwilling to bend. Globally, 1,291 protests and gatherings by NCRI supporters highlight the growing prominence of a democratic alternative.

The Iranian Resistance, anchored by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) coalition, is resolute. As NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi has emphasized, it draws unprecedented support from Iranians at home and in the diaspora, forging a path toward a free, democratic future.

Yet, the regime clings to power through brutality. Since Masoud Pezeshkian, the so-called moderate president, took office, over 1,000 executions have been carried out — a desperate bid to forestall another uprising.

This escalation betrays the regime’s fear: it knows the Iranian people are ready to rise. The regime’s recent agreement to talks with the United States, after Khamenei’s vehement rejection of such engagement as “dishonorable” and “unwise,” further exposes its desperation. The ball is in Tehran’s court, but its options are dwindling.

These stark realities point to one conclusion: the regime’s demise is inevitable. But it will not fall on its own — it must be dismantled by the organized resistance and the will of the Iranian people. The NCRI offers a clear vision: a secular, democratic Iran that upholds gender equality, human rights, and peace with its neighbors.

Unlike the hollow promises of reformists or the nostalgic fantasies of monarchists, the NCRI’s coalition, rooted in decades of sacrifice, provides a credible alternative. Its resilience contrasts sharply with a regime that has lost all legitimacy.

As Rajavi has powerfully articulated, the regime’s malign meddling abroad, its vulnerability to overthrow, and the urgent need for transformative policy shifts are undeniable. Given these realities, the international community must act decisively.

For too long, leniency has emboldened Tehran, prolonging the suffering of millions. Western powers should recognize the NCRI as the legitimate voice of the Iranian people, affirm the Resistance Units’ rightful struggle against the Revolutionary Guards’ oppression, and impose targeted sanctions on regime elites to hasten its collapse.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, echoing Iran’s struggle, “There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it — always.” The mullahs’ fall is not a question of if, but when.

The Iranian people are ready to liberate their nation from this medieval tyranny. They need the world’s support — not to fight their battles, but to amplify their voices. The NCRI and PMOI have laid the groundwork for a revolution; now is the time for bold action to ensure its success. Iran’s future — a vibrant, free, and democratic nation — hangs in the balance. The civilized world must stand with its people and hasten their victory.

Ali Safavi (@amsafavi) is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).