Striking Truckers Stall Iran’s Economy and Defy Islamic Dictators
Few figures understand the Islamic Republic’s internal fractures like Alireza Jafarzadeh, the longtime opposition voice and deputy director of the U.S. office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). As Iran enters another volatile summer, Jafarzadeh can offer sharp analysis and insider perspective on the growing nationwide unrest threatening the regime’s grip.
On May 21, a strike by Iranian truck drivers exploded into a full-scale, organized protest across at least 124 cities—recalling the scale and fury of the 2019 fuel protests and the 2022 anti-regime uprising. Truckers have not only stopped delivering; they are blocking roads. As inflation bites, fuel subsidies vanish, and safety deteriorates, Iran’s transport sector has become the latest flashpoint of economic despair and political outrage.
Simultaneously, widespread power outages have crippled infrastructure, shut down factories, and sparked new protests. Even the regime’s own officials admit there’s been zero investment in power development over the past three years. With summer looming, temperatures rising, and blackouts worsening, Iran’s fragile infrastructure and enraged population are on a collision course.
Bakers have now joined the protest wave, staging strikes in multiple cities, as regime forces respond with violent crackdowns—echoing the deadly responses seen in recent uprisings.
Jafarzadeh can explain why this isn’t just another round of unrest—it’s the continuation of a broader movement for regime change that’s been building since 2017. With a collapsing economy, brutal suppression, and organized labor rising, the Islamic Republic is facing its most coordinated challenge yet.
Jafarzadeh is available to discuss the strikes, regime vulnerabilities, the risk of escalation, and why the West must stop viewing Iran through a nuclear-only lens. The threat isn’t just nuclear—it’s domestic collapse.
Jafarzadeh is available for interviews immediately.
As the military chessboard shifts, the NCRI insists the time to plan for the morning after is now.
Speakers Available:
Alireza Jafarzadeh – Deputy Director, NCRI-US
Shahin Gobadi – Member of NCRI Parliament in Exile
Other Speakers Available:
Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad – Iranian American Scholar and Cybersecurity Executive
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian – Dean of College of Engineering; expert on Iran’s Nuclear program
Related Article(s)
Iran’s Collapsing Economy Sparks Protests in Key Sectors – Special Guests
Optional Q&A
- What is the true scale of the truck drivers’ strike, and why is it so significant?
- How does this wave of strikes compare to the uprisings of 2017, 2019, and 2022?
- Is the Iranian regime more vulnerable now than it was during previous nationwide protests?
- What role is the Iranian resistance playing in organizing or supporting these protests on the ground?
- How are regime forces responding to the strikes—and what does their reaction tell us?
- With zero investment in energy infrastructure and ongoing blackouts, is Iran headed for a summer of chaos?
- How should Western governments respond to this unrest—particularly those still pursuing nuclear talks?
- What’s next for the Iranian people—and is regime change truly within reach this time?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 DR. RAMESH SEPEHRRAD…
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. 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.
Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ramesh’s commitment to justice is deeply personal. Her family endured brutal persecution under both the Shah’s monarchy and the current theocratic regime. Several relatives were imprisoned, tortured, or executed for their opposition to tyranny—an experience that has shaped her life’s mission to amplify the voices of Iran’s oppressed.
After seeking refuge in the United States in 1985, Dr. Sepehrrad earned a B.S. in Computer Science from SUNY Buffalo, an M.A. in Political Science, and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. She has also taught graduate courses on conflict, gender, and human rights at George Mason, University of Connecticut where she was inducted as the Distinguished Engineer, and University of Baltimore.
Professionally, she has held senior executive roles in cybersecurity and risk management where she has earned numerous industry awards and recognition.
Through academic rigor, policy engagement, and grassroots mobilization, Dr. Sepehrrad is a compelling voice for democratic change in Iran—rejecting both monarchy and theocracy in favor of a republic rooted in gender equality, human rights and the rule of law.
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.
He is a member of The Free Iran Scholars Network. 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.
CONTACT:
For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Jerry McGlothlin at 919-437-0001 / Bookings@SeasonalLiving.com
