On April 22, 2026, the European Parliament hosted a pivotal conference titled “Iran: Take Action to Stop Executions, Where Does the EU Stand?” The event took place against the backdrop of an extraordinarily volatile period in Iranian history. Following the massive nationwide uprisings of December 2025 and January 2026—which originated in the Tehran bazaar and rapidly evolved into a fierce, nationwide demand for regime change—the clerical regime responded with unprecedented brutality toward dissidents.

The European Parliament conference aimed to refocus the world’s attention on a domestic crisis that international conflicts threatened to overshadow: the Iranian regime’s relentless and escalating war against its own people. Over the past month, the regime has exploited the geopolitical chaos to carry out a horrific execution spree, executing political prisoners and detained protesters at an alarming rate.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum gathered to demand a decisive shift in European policy. The consensus among the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and prominent European leaders in attendance was clear: appeasement has failed, external military action alone cannot bring democracy, and the only viable path to a free Iran lies in the hands of the Iranian people and their organized Resistance.

The Path to a Democratic Republic: Maryam Rajavi’s Vision

At the center of the conference was the keynote address by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Her speech underscored that despite the death of Ali Khamenei and the changing geopolitical landscape, the core nature of the religious dictatorship remains fundamentally unchanged.

“The system of Velayat-e Faqih, even under Khamenei’s son, remains the same regime, with the same identity and nature, and it possesses no capacity for reform or change,” Mrs. Rajavi stated. “Despite any maneuvering, it will not abandon its nuclear weapons program or its network of proxy forces, and its survival depends on the brutal repression of the people.”

Mrs. Rajavi painted a picture of a regime pushed to the brink not by foreign adversaries, but by its own citizens. Referencing the massive December-January protests, she noted, “The regime does not view external war as the primary threat to its existence, but rather deep-seated popular outrage and organized resistance. Its leaders fear the consequences of peace and the eruption of another uprising.”

She highlighted the heavy toll and profound courage of the Resistance Units. During the January uprisings alone, these units carried out 630 operations against centers of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the Basij to defend unarmed demonstrators. Furthermore, she noted that on February 23, days before the recent external military strikes, 250 fighters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) launched a daring attack on Khamenei’s heavily guarded headquarters in Tehran, resulting in approximately 100 fighters killed or arrested.

Mrs. Rajavi officially reiterated the NCRI’s February 28 announcement regarding the establishment of a provisional government aimed at transferring sovereignty to the Iranian people. “This provisional government is tasked with organizing, within a maximum of six months after the overthrow of the regime, free elections for a Constituent Assembly,” she declared, directly challenging Mojtaba Khamenei to allow free elections under UN supervision if he truly believes he has popular support.

An Escalating Spree of Executions and Human Rights Abuses

A primary catalyst for the conference was the horrific wave of executions systematically carried out by the regime under the shadow of recent external conflicts. The speakers presented a stark picture of a state apparatus utilizing the cover of war to eliminate its most determined domestic opponents.

Over the last month alone, the regime has executed eight PMOI members: Hamed Validi, Mohammad (Nima) Massoum-Shahi,........

© Eurasia Review