NCRI Deputy Director talks about the United Nations Protest as the Snapback set to Put Sanctions in place
The recent interview between radio host Rich Valdes and Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), centered on the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the powerful protests that unfolded alongside it. The discussion focused on the thousands of Iranian expatriates and supporters of freedom who rallied to oppose the clerical regime, highlighting both the scale of the demonstration and its political significance. Against the backdrop of the international gathering, the conversation also turned toward the looming snapback sanctions set to re-enter force on September 27, a development that could prove devastating for a regime already struggling under mounting internal and external pressures.
Jafarzadeh described the demonstration outside the UN as a vivid reminder that the Iranian people, and particularly those in exile, have not given up on their desire for regime change. The protest drew a large and energized crowd, underscoring a message of defiance against Tehran’s ruling elite and demanding recognition of the organized opposition movement led by the NCRI. Valdes pressed Jafarzadeh on the timing of the protest, which coincided with speeches delivered by regime officials inside the UN chamber. According to Jafarzadeh, the contrast could not have been sharper: inside, a regime desperately trying to project legitimacy to the world, and outside, thousands of people rejecting its authority and calling for freedom, accountability, and a secular, democratic alternative.
Valdes asked about the Timing of the UNGA
The timing of the UN General Assembly is particularly important this year, given the imminent return of sanctions under the snapback mechanism. Jafarzadeh emphasized that the sanctions, which are scheduled to be restored on September 27, will not be symbolic measures but concrete restrictions with the potential to severely curtail the regime’s already fragile economic lifelines. These sanctions cover vital sectors including oil exports, banking, and international transactions, which have long been the backbone of the regime’s ability to fund its domestic repression and foreign adventurism. Jafarzadeh stressed that the sanctions are not just punitive, but also corrective, aiming to cut off the financial resources that allow the regime to sponsor terrorism abroad and suppress dissent at home.
Valdes steered the discussion toward the broader implications of sanctions on the survival of the regime. Jafarzadeh explained that Tehran is facing a convergence of crises that make this snapback especially dangerous for the mullahs. Years of corruption and mismanagement have hollowed out the economy. Inflation and unemployment remain sky-high, and the rial has lost most of its value. At the same time, repeated nationwide uprisings in recent years have demonstrated the Iranian people’s willingness to rise against the regime when opportunities present themselves. In this context, sanctions could exacerbate the regime’s vulnerability, making it harder to buy loyalty from security forces or fund regional militias that have long served as its power projection tools.
Valdes knows nighttime
The NCRI deputy director also highlighted how the international community is increasingly aligning with the Iranian people’s aspirations. He pointed to the bipartisan support in Washington for holding Tehran accountable, the growing recognition in Europe that appeasement has failed, and the shifting tone within the UN itself as evidence that the regime’s propaganda is wearing thin. In his view, the protests outside the UN sent an unmistakable message to world leaders: the people of Iran do not view the clerical regime as their representative, and there exists a viable, organized resistance movement ready to step in when the regime falls.
Valdes and Jafarzadeh further discussed how the snapback could accelerate internal fissures within the regime. Already, reports indicate divisions among factions in Tehran over how to handle the sanctions. Some advocate defiance and escalation, while others fear that continued brinkmanship will only speed up their collapse. Jafarzadeh argued that this infighting is a sign of weakness, not strength, and that the Iranian people can sense the cracks in the system. The protests in New York were therefore not merely symbolic, but also a morale boost to those inside Iran who risk their lives by resisting the regime on a daily basis.
As the interview concluded, Jafarzadeh returned to the significance of the moment. The snapback on September 27 will hit the regime at one of its most precarious points in decades. Combined with the growing resistance movement, both inside and outside Iran, and the increasing international isolation of Tehran, the sanctions could be a tipping point. Valdes underscored that the developments at the UN and in the streets of New York reflect more than just another diplomatic skirmish; they reveal a regime on the ropes, challenged by its own people and cornered by world powers.
The conversation left little doubt that the days ahead could be decisive. With sanctions set to return in force and opposition louder than ever, the Iranian regime faces a convergence of pressures that could reshape its future. For the NCRI, the protests at the UN were a demonstration of resolve and a call to the international community to stand with the Iranian people at this critical juncture.
