Deputy Director of NCRI discusses recent event outside United Nations; Iran Protesters call for Regime Change
Starts at the 2:10 mark, via Real America’s Voice:
In a recent interview on Real America’s Voice, host Erick Bolling sat down with Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the U.S. office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), to discuss the large-scale demonstrations held outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The protests drew thousands of Iranian expatriates and supporters of freedom, all calling for the overthrow of the clerical regime in Tehran. For Bolling, the images of banners, flags, and chants reverberating through Manhattan illustrated a growing movement that refuses to let the world ignore the cries for justice and democracy in Iran.
Bolling began the conversation by noting the sheer size and energy of the crowd, which he described as unlike anything the regime’s representatives inside the UN could ignore. Jafarzadeh explained that the demonstrators represented a broad coalition of Iranians abroad who stand united behind the NCRI and its president-elect, Maryam Rajavi. The timing of the protests, coinciding with speeches from both President Trump and the Iranian president, was deliberate. As Bolling observed, the point was clear: while the regime postures on the world stage, its own people are demanding an end to tyranny at home.
Mullahs as Bolling Pins
Throughout the discussion, Bolling pressed Jafarzadeh on the significance of the protest in shaping international opinion. Jafarzadeh stressed that the demonstrations highlighted both the vulnerability of the regime and the strength of the opposition. The NCRI, he said, is not only exposing human rights abuses and corruption but also presenting a viable democratic alternative. Bolling noted that this message stands in sharp contrast to the regime’s portrayal of its critics as fringe voices. The thousands gathered outside the UN proved that the Iranian opposition has deep roots, international reach, and momentum.
Bolling also questioned Jafarzadeh about the sanctions “snapback” that took effect at midnight on September 28. Jafarzadeh explained that the sanctions represent a critical blow to the regime’s already weakened economy, further undercutting its ability to fund repression and terrorism. He emphasized that pressure from the international community, combined with internal resistance, is tightening the noose on Tehran’s rulers. Bolling framed the sanctions as part of a broader strategy that aligns with the voices on the street: isolating the regime until real change is possible.
Another key point of the interview centered on the role of young Iranians. Bolling highlighted footage of young protesters holding photos of martyrs killed in uprisings over the last few years. Jafarzadeh explained that Iran’s younger generation is both fearless and determined, rejecting decades of clerical rule. They are the driving force of the nationwide protests that have shaken the regime repeatedly since 2017. For Bolling, this generational defiance is a sign that change is not just desirable but inevitable.
The conversation then turned to the international community’s responsibility. Bolling challenged the idea that Western governments can continue to engage Tehran while ignoring the demands of its people. Jafarzadeh agreed, arguing that any negotiations with the regime only embolden it. Instead, global leaders should recognize the NCRI as the legitimate voice of the Iranian people and support their push for a secular, democratic republic. Bolling noted that the UN itself, while giving the regime a platform, cannot escape the reality that thousands of protesters just outside its doors were sending a very different message.
As the interview concluded, Bolling reiterated the symbolic power of the New York protests. With chants calling for regime change echoing through the city, the regime’s representatives inside the UN could hardly ignore what was happening outside. Jafarzadeh left viewers with the reminder that the fight is not merely political but moral: a struggle between tyranny and democracy, repression and freedom. For Bolling, the interview underscored how the Iranian resistance has grown into a powerful force capable of drawing international attention and reshaping the debate about Iran’s future.
The Bolling interview captured both the urgency and the determination of the Iranian opposition movement. It demonstrated how events outside the UN can be just as consequential as speeches delivered inside. Thousands of protesters demanding the overthrow of the regime reflected a reality that the clerics in Tehran and their international enablers would prefer to ignore. Through Bolling’s platform, Jafarzadeh conveyed that the Iranian people are no longer willing to be silenced, and the world can no longer pretend not to hear them.
