Thousands of Iranian Americans and opposition supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, urging the United States and global leaders to take a firm stance against Iran’s theocratic regime and recognize the Iranian people’s right to overthrow it.
Organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the demonstration, held on International Women’s Day, featured a march from the Capitol to the White House, where participants waved Iranian opposition flags and chanted in support of a democratic, secular Iran. The rally centered around the Ten-Point Plan of NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, which calls for a non-nuclear Iran, human rights protections, and a government free from religious rule.
Speaking via video from France, Rajavi declared that “now is the time to rise”, rejecting both foreign intervention and efforts to revive Iran’s former monarchy, which she described as a pawn of the ruling religious establishment.
U.S. Leaders Voice Support for Iranian Opposition
Several prominent American political figures spoke at the event, underscoring the growing momentum behind Iran’s opposition movement.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) condemned Tehran’s human rights abuses and nuclear ambitions, stating that the U.S. must stand firmly with the Iranian people.
“We stand with the Iranian people, and we reject the parasitic regime that has ruled that country since 1979.”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressed the crowd, praising the resilience of the opposition and emphasizing that regime change must come from within Iran.
“You don’t need American or European troops—you only need yourselves, Madame Rajavi, and the NCRI.”
Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Sam Brownback led chants of “No more nukes, no more mullahs”, warning that Iran’s accelerating nuclear program and its domestic repression required immediate international attention.
“It’s now or nuclear. It has to change.”
Brownback called for increased European backing and a renewed “maximum pressure” campaign by the U.S. to further weaken the Iranian regime.
Congress Pushes for a Harder Line on Iran
The rally came just days after over 150 members of Congress signed a resolution endorsing the Iranian resistance movement and condemning the Islamic Republic’s human rights abuses and terrorist activities.
During a congressional hearing last week, lawmakers labeled Iran’s government a “murderous, terrorist regime”, with Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) emphasizing its record of repression.
“The Iranian regime has become a supreme source of misery, injustice, and oppression for its own people. Such a state of things cannot last much longer, and I believe events are coming to a head.”
“It’s not inconceivable to me that within the next few years, we will be celebrating the liberation of Iran.”
Growing Pressure on Tehran Amid Rising Unrest
Iran’s government, long considered the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, has faced intensifying domestic unrest and international scrutiny. Under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the regime has:
- Executed more than 1,000 prisoners in 2024, the highest number in decades.
- Expanded its nuclear program, raising fears of a potential weapons breakout.
- Cracked down violently on opposition movements, arresting and torturing dissidents.
With economic sanctions straining the regime’s finances and opposition forces growing bolder, many within the Iranian resistance argue that Tehran’s downfall is inevitable.
Calls for Renewed U.S. Action
With President Trump’s administration taking a more aggressive stance toward Iran, opposition leaders are pushing for a return to the maximum pressure policy, which previously imposed strict economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation on Tehran.
At the rally, speakers emphasized that U.S. action—combined with domestic resistance—could accelerate the regime’s collapse. As Iran’s leadership faces growing dissent at home and condemnation abroad, the NCRI and its supporters insist that a free Iran is no longer a distant hope, but a real possibility.
