Shirin Nariman to CNN: Iran’s Religious Dictatorship Is Nearing Its End, and the Future Lies in Organized Resistance

In an interview with CNN, former Iranian political prisoner and human rights activist Shirin Nariman said recent developments mark what she believes is the beginning of the end for Iran’s religious dictatorship, arguing that the country is entering a decisive phase in which organized resistance could shape a democratic future.

Nariman, reflecting on the latest events, said that as someone who has personally endured imprisonment, torture, and the constant presence of death, she sees this moment as the possible end of a system that inflicted suffering on countless Iranians. She said her hope is that no one in the future will have to experience what she endured or what political prisoners in Iran continue to face today.

At the same time, she stressed that change will not happen automatically. According to Nariman, the struggle must continue inside the country, with people remaining active in the streets and in the broader movement for political change. What gives her confidence, she said, is the existence of a clear political path for the future.

Nariman voiced her support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran, led by Maryam Rajavi, saying Rajavi’s political program is what gives her hope for a free and democratic Iran. Speaking about the wider opposition landscape, she acknowledged the existence of different factions, including monarchists, but argued that one organized opposition movement stands out for its discipline, coherence, and singular focus on regime change.

She also referred to the movement’s past designation on terrorist lists, describing it as a product of the appeasement policies of that period. She said the group worked hard to overturn that designation because, in her view, it had no legitimate basis. Nariman credited Maryam Rajavi’s leadership for helping move that process forward, describing her as an intelligent, strong, and charismatic leader.

On the question of how Iran’s military and security forces may respond, Nariman said she does not expect senior commanders to defect quickly. However, she suggested that lower-ranking members may reconsider their position once they conclude that the system has been fundamentally weakened and that there is no longer a reason to continue fighting for it. She noted that Rajavi has called on members of the Revolutionary Guard to lay down their weapons and urged the army to stand with the Iranian people.

Nariman argued that the loss of the central figure who had long held the structure together has dealt a major blow to the regime. If a credible opposition and active resistance units remain in place, she said, further uprisings are likely. In her view, such developments typically emerge not during the height of war, but in its aftermath, when society begins to absorb the scale of change.

She concluded by saying that while the road ahead will not be easy, it will not be long either, emphasizing the importance of resistance units and a broader organized movement in bringing about political transformation in Iran.