Snap Judgment: At High Midnight, Snapback Duel with Iran Could Deliver Knockout Blow to Regime
The current regime of Iran may be turning into the proverbial pumpkin. At midnight on September 27, United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran are set to snapback into place, reshaping the geopolitical landscape. This marks the formal end of the JCPOA nuclear deal and a decisive shift in international policy toward Tehran. The critical question now is not whether sanctions will return—but what comes next.
Speakers Available: Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of NCRI, as well as Shahin Gobadi and Ali Safavi, members of Iranian Parliament in exile.
Snapback the head of the Snake
A new Washington Post investigation underscores why this moment is so pivotal. Despite devastating U.S. and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities this summer, Iran has accelerated underground construction at “Pickaxe Mountain,” a vast tunneling complex near Natanz. Analysts suggest the site may be deeper than Fordow, raising concerns it could serve as a covert enrichment facility or storage site for near-weapons-grade uranium. International inspectors have been denied access, leaving major questions unanswered. The development highlights Tehran’s defiance: while claiming diplomacy, it is entrenching nuclear activities further out of reach.
Snapback to Reality
This is precisely why the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is uniquely positioned to offer critical perspective. For decades, NCRI has exposed the regime’s most sensitive nuclear secrets, including the clandestine sites at Natanz, Arak, and Fordow. With over 133 verified revelations made through its internal network, NCRI has an unmatched track record of uncovering what Tehran seeks to conceal.
Snapback is real
As sanctions re-emerge, Iran faces mounting political and economic isolation, yet its leadership appears determined to gamble on nuclear brinkmanship. The implications extend far beyond Iran’s borders: regional stability, global nonproliferation efforts, and the credibility of international enforcement are all at stake. Policymakers, media, and the public need authoritative analysis on how these sanctions will bite, how the regime might respond, and what policies are most likely to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
NCRI can provide that analysis. Its experts are available to brief on:
- The strategic significance of renewed sanctions.
- The status of Iran’s nuclear program post-strikes.
- The vulnerabilities inside the regime, including mounting unrest.
- Why the international community must pair sanctions with a coherent strategy to support the Iranian people and hold Tehran accountable.
This weekend represents an inflection point in global diplomacy. With sanctions re-imposed and Iran digging deeper—literally and figuratively—the world must decide how to respond. NCRI offers the proven expertise and insider knowledge needed to navigate this dangerous new phase.
Here is what the Ayatollah then tweeted:
The NCRI has been calling for regime change in Iran and is available to provide context on this huge development. Deputy Director Alireza Jafarzadeh, Member of Parliament in Exile Shahin Gobadi, and others are available for interviews.
The NCRI can provide expert voices on the sanctions, the state of the regime, and what comes next.
Snapback Snapback Snapback
Speakers Available:
Alireza Jafarzadeh – Deputy Director of NCRI
Shahin Gobadi – Nuclear Engineer and member of NCRI
Ali Safavi – Member of NCRI Parliament in Exile
Related Article(s)
Iran increases work underground near nuclear facility that U.S. struck – The Washington Post
UN Security Council moves to impose “snapback” sanctions on Iran
Iran ordered to pay billions to relatives of 9/11 victims – ABC News
Optional Q&A
- What is the significance of the September 27 snapback sanctions on Iran?
- How does this moment mark the formal end of the JCPOA nuclear agreement?
- What did the Washington Post reveal about Iran’s underground “Pickaxe Mountain” project?
- Why is Tehran accelerating nuclear activities despite devastating strikes earlier this year?
- How has the NCRI historically exposed secret nuclear sites like Natanz, Arak, and Fordow?
- What impact will renewed sanctions have on Iran’s political and economic landscape?
- How might these developments affect regional stability and global nonproliferation efforts?
- What policy steps should the international community take to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran?
- Would you like me to tighten these so they read more like media interview questions for NCRI spokespeople, or keep them broad and general?
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.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal Iranian affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
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.
CONTACT: For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SpecialGuests.com
