Regime Change… To What? Trump Calls for Removal of Iranian Mullahs but Hardest Question Remains Unanswered
President Donald Trump is now calling for regime change in Iran. The people of Iran agree with that. It’s the next question that is just as – or perhaps more – important. What replaces the mullahs? History shows that removing a regime anywhere, without a clear, legitimate alternative is not strategy; it’s a gamble. The Iranian people have already paid the price for that mistake more than once.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) agrees with Trump that regime change is necessary.
NCRI Speakers Available:
Mrs. Shirin Nariman: Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Zahra Amanpour: Father killed while she was very young, had to flee Iran
Homeira Hesami: Former Political Prisoner in Iran
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad: Iranian American
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian: Iranian American
Alireza Jafarzadeh: Deputy Director of NCRI
Nearly five decades ago, the current clerical dictatorship was born out of widespread resentment toward the Shah’s monarchy. Iranians demanded dignity, freedom, and representation. Instead, they inherited something far worse—a theocratic regime defined by repression, executions, corruption, and ideological extremism. That lesson is deeply ingrained in the Iranian psyche. Which is why today, proposals to reinstall the Shah’s son as a solution are viewed by most Iranians not as restoration, but as regression.
Reza Pahlavi has not lived in Iran for decades. He was not elected, has no mandate, and represents a system the Iranian people already rejected. A return to monarchy is not stability—it’s a shortcut to renewed unrest and another cycle of failure. The idea that Iran can be “fixed” by recycling its past is a dangerous illusion.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
— George Santayana
Former Political Prisoners Speak
The NCRI offers a fundamentally different vision—one rooted in self-determination, not imposed outcomes. Iranians do not want foreign intervention, and they do not want another externally chosen ruler. What they want is the right to choose their own future through democratic means. They want political, moral, and vocal support from the free world—not bombs, occupations, or proxy rulers.
This distinction matters for Americans as well, especially those exhausted by endless wars in the Middle East. Supporting the Iranian people does not mean endorsing military action. In fact, the loudest advocates for bombing Iran are often the same voices pushing for a return to monarchy—an approach that would almost certainly drag the U.S. into yet another prolonged conflict.
When politicians call for regime change without explaining what follows, it’s a red flag. Either they don’t know—or they don’t want to say. The NCRI does know. Its platform calls for a secular, democratic republic, free elections, equal rights for women and minorities, and peaceful coexistence with the world. That vision is Iranian-led, Iranian-supported, and Iranian-owned.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), heads what is widely regarded by Iranian dissidents and many international observers as the only fully formed, organized political coalition prepared to manage a post-regime transition.
If regime change is truly the goal, then legitimacy must be the foundation. And legitimacy can only come from the people of Iran themselves.
Relevant Article(s):
Trump to POLITICO: ‘It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran’ – POLITICO
Trump Calls for New Leadership in Iran | The Epoch Times
Iran News in Brief – January 18, 2026 – NCRI
Watch this Iranian woman explain better than anyone else can:
RyanMatta 🇺🇸 🦅 on X: “This is a great question for Patrick Bet David! https://t.co/D3wUTsJO1U” / X
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- How do you respond to President Trump’s call for change without specifying what comes next?
- Why is defining the post-mullah future just as important as removing the current regime?
- What lessons should the world learn from Iran’s 1979 revolution when discussing change today?
- Why do most Iranians reject both a return to monarchy and continued clerical rule?
- How does the NCRI’s vision differ from proposals to reinstall the Shah’s son?
- What role should the United States play if Iranians are determined to lead the change themselves?
- Why do calls for bombing Iran undermine the Iranian people’s push for self-determination?
- How can Americans support Iran’s democratic movement without repeating past foreign-policy mistakes?
ABOUT ZAHRA AMANPOUR…
Zahra Amanpour is a lifelong human rights advocate and a proud supporter of the Iranian Resistance movement. Born during the 1979 Iranian Revolution in Tehran, Zahra’s life has been defined by the struggle for freedom and justice. Her father, a prominent advocate with the MEK/PMOI, was killed in 1988—a summer marked by the mass killing of 30,000 political prisoners following the end of the Iran-Iraq war.
Raised by her mother within the Iranian Resistance community, Zahra grew up surrounded by the courage, clarity, and conviction of those who refused to be silenced. She draws deep inspiration from the many women who have led the movement for a free, secular, and democratic Iran.
As a Board Member of the Women’s Freedom Forum, Zahra works to amplify the voices of women fighting for their rights under repressive regimes and to shine a global light on their stories of resistance. Her work bridges continents, connecting the struggle for human rights in Iran with economic empowerment initiatives in the United States.
Zahra Amanpour – Iranian-American Women’s Rights Activist
ABOUT HOMEIRA HESAMI…
Homeira Hesami was born in 1966 in Iran. At age 16, she graduated from high school with honors but was denied acceptance to Iranian universities due to her political beliefs and activism. Her activism forced her to spend a significant period of time in prison in Iran as a teenager.
She was eventually able to immigrate to the United States, where she pursued her education further, obtaining both her Master’s from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Hesami has remained active in the political scene to help establish a free, democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Iran. Homeira was a member of the Iranian American Women’s Delegation that attended the World Conferences on Women in Beijing in 1995. She has spoken at the University of Virginia to educate students about the current plight of women in Iran.
Hesami has also spoken at The National Convention of Iranian Americans in Washington, D.C., as well as the Texas Convention of Iranian Leaders in Houston, TX. She is married with two children, and working as a medical physicist in Irving, Texas.
Homeira Hesami – U.S. Foundation for Liberty
ABOUT DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad is a leading Iranian American scholar, published author, cybersecurity executive, and human rights advocate, known for her tireless efforts to advance a non-nuclear, secular, and democratic republic in Iran. Her commitment to justice in Iran is deeply personal. As Chair of the Advisory Board of the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC), she plays a pivotal role in bipartisan majority of congressional advocacy, including support for various house resolutions, which endorses the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom and Maryam Rajavi’s ten-point plan.
ABOUT DR. KAZEM KAZEROUNIAN…
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and served as Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024.
A passionate advocate for democracy and human rights, Dr. Kazerounian is also an expert on Iran and the Middle East, particularly regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, and human rights situation in Iran. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement in Iran.
Nationally, he has held leadership roles with ASEE and ASME, shaping engineering policy and education. His honors include the ASME Mechanisms and Robotics Award, AIMBE Fellowship, and induction into the Connecticut Academy of Science & Engineering.
An ASME Fellow, his research spans kinematics, robotics, and biomechanics. He has authored over 160 scholarly works and co-founded AcademicKeys.com and AcademicJournal.com, a professional platform and an online journal for academics.
Shirin Nariman is a former political prisoner from Iran, human rights advocate, and entrepreneur.
At just 15 years old, during the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she became involved in pro-democracy activities and supported the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). Less than two years later, she was arrested for her activism—becoming one of the youngest political prisoners of her time and enduring severe torture in Evin Prison. Her case drew international attention and intervention from the Red Cross.
During her imprisonment, Shirin witnessed the regime’s brutality firsthand, including the executions of children, elderly women, and pregnant prisoners. After her release, she eventually sought refuge in the United States, where she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights, women’s rights, and a free, democratic, non-nuclear Iran.
Shirin holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems and has worked with leading wireless and financial corporations.
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
CONTACT:
Jerry McGlothlin
Special Guests Publicity
919-437-0001
This material is distributed by Special Guests Publicity LLC on behalf of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) / Media Strategy Consulting LTD. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
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