Earlier this year, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that Iran's Islamic Republic is “pushing gasoline pedals” on nuclear activities. In response to the latest criticism by the IAEA's Governor's Committee, the Iranian regime has announced plans to expand its nuclear facilities in a way that further accelerates the pace of uranium enrichment. This comes after more than four years of facilities have enriched the materials to 60% fission purity.
Pending upgrades could narrow Iran's “breakout time” for nuclear weapons capabilities. Furthermore, recent information reports reveal the existence of another secret Iranian programme for developing nuclear warheads. The window of opportunity to halt Iran's progress towards a nuclear breakout is rapidly closing, and Western countries now need to take decisive action.
Washington does not need to deploy troops, drop bombs, or provide financial or military aid. What it needs to do is support the rights of Iranians who choose their leader.
However, the nuclear threat is just one of many pressing issues related to the Islamic Republic. As it develops, so is Tehran's strategy to redirect forecasts of regional power following the overthrow of its major regional ally Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime is actively working to cultivate broader international relations that could threaten the Western-led world order.
The international community has long been in the notion that diplomacy can resolve the nuclear crisis. However, negotiations with Iran have repeatedly proven fruitful, and since the US escaped from it in 2018, there has been no meaningful progress towards reimplementing Iran's nuclear deal in 2015. President Trump declared that he was “interested in building a nuclear peace agreement” as he revived the Oval Office, but now he has maintained his efforts to maintain his efforts.
Trump said he likes a new agreement over “bombing Iran against the blacksmith,” but the choice is a false one. The option is not a war or agreement that Iran will certainly violate. A much better solution is for the US to promote Iran's change of government.
We have already witnessed an appetite for a change of government. In September 2022, the popular nationwide uprising presented its biggest challenge to theocratic dictatorship since its inception 43 years ago. The backlash came from the horrifying killing of Mahsa Amini by the moral police, but was just one of a series of demands for a change of government, including the previous uprisings in 2018 and 2019.
One common modest thing about these protests has long been a phrase associated with the Mohahedin organization of Iranian people (also known as the MEK) and its political council, the National Council of Iranian Resistance. For those who followed opposition to the Iranian regime, the use of this slogan was clearly to show support for MEK and NCRI leader Maryam Rajavi.
It is no coincidence that many of the protesters are women. Rajabi herself highlighted the role of these women at a speech with about 20,000 Iranian expatriates meeting in Paris and an international conference at the NCRI headquarters at the Landing of International Women's Day on February 22. When NCRI holds another demonstration in Washington, DC on Saturday, she will definitely do so again. The Trump administration should pay close attention to the Paris event and major demonstrations in Washington, where thousands of Iranians are expected to be present, as well as the NCRI's lasting message.
Rajabi's detailed 10-point plan promises a critical end to the regime's nuclear program, not just equal rights, civil liberties, religious tolerance, and democratic governance. Western policymakers must promise to stand with Iranian people and recognize that Iranian women are leading accusations to overthrow the administrative regime.
Washington does not need to deploy troops, drop bombs, or provide financial or military aid. What it needs to do is support the rights of Iranians who choose their leader.
