Ex-U.S. Diplomat Calls for Overthrow of Iran’s Clerical Regime

By Amr Gohar

Washington DC , Former U.S. diplomat and nuclear non-proliferation expert Robert Joseph said the overthrow of Iran’s ruling clerical system is the only path to eliminating the country’s nuclear threat and achieving democratic change.

Joseph argued that the survival of the Velayat-e Faqih system in Tehran would continue to pose a serious risk to global security. He said any strategy that allows the current leadership to remain in power would ultimately strengthen authoritarian forces in the region.

“The key to success lies in the complete termination of this regime,” Joseph said, warning that partial reforms or negotiated compromises would not address what he described as the root of the crisis.

Joseph also claimed the Iranian government is entering what he described as its “final stages,” particularly following reports surrounding the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to him, the current situation inside Iran shows increasing pressure on the ruling establishment.

The former diplomat said meaningful political change would not come through foreign military intervention but through the actions of the Iranian people themselves. He pointed to repeated uprisings over the years and the heavy toll on protesters, saying thousands of Iranians have been killed during demonstrations against the government.

Joseph also warned that Iran’s nuclear program remains a major concern. He said the country has enriched uranium to around 60 percent, a level close to weapons-grade material, and argued that the step toward developing nuclear weapons could be reached quickly if the current government remains in power.

He added that diplomatic efforts aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions have failed to produce lasting results.

Joseph expressed support for the Iranian opposition movement, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran led by Maryam Rajavi. He said the group’s proposed political framework, known as the 10-point plan, outlines a transition toward a democratic and non-nuclear republic.

Joseph concluded by urging the international community to recognize what he described as the Iranian people’s right to determine their country’s political future and to support efforts aimed at establishing a democratic government.