By Amr Gohar
washington DC, – A senior Iranian opposition figure has claimed that Iran’s ruling system is entering a decisive phase of instability following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, arguing that mounting internal and external pressures have pushed the government toward what he described as an “inescapable dead end.”
Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said in a televised interview that the country’s ruling system—based on the concept of Velayat-e Faqih—is facing unprecedented structural strain.
Speaking on the “Alan Jackson Now” program, Jafarzadeh described what he called “a state of panic” within Iran’s leadership, attributing it to the erosion of the regime’s military and security apparatus amid ongoing external conflict. He argued that the situation has exposed weaknesses in the system that had long been concealed.
“The regime is no longer capable of maneuvering,” Jafarzadeh said, adding that escalating internal repression reflects a loss of strategic control rather than strength.
He pointed to recent executions of individuals linked to the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, also known as the PMOI, including Vahid Bani Amerian and Abolhassan Montazer, as part of efforts to reassert authority. According to Jafarzadeh, such actions are intended to restore morale within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps but risk further fueling dissent.
Jafarzadeh also highlighted the role of opposition “Resistance Units,” which he said are focused on intelligence-gathering and strategic coordination rather than direct confrontation. He claimed these groups are preparing for a potential transition period should the current system collapse.
He further argued that a political alternative exists under opposition leader Maryam Rajavi, who has proposed a provisional government framework and a 10-point plan aimed at establishing a democratic system in Iran.
“The Iranian street today anticipates change,” Jafarzadeh said, describing the opposition’s proposal as “the only national project ready” for a post-regime transition.
Addressing the international community, he urged governments to reconsider engagement with Tehran, warning that negotiations with current authorities would be ineffective. “Any attempt to negotiate with the remnants of this regime is a bet on a mirage,” he said.
Jafarzadeh concluded that the current moment represents a turning point, asserting that the system built around clerical rule has effectively ended and that Iran is entering a new phase shaped by public demand for political change.
While Iranian officials have not publicly responded to these claims, analysts note that the country continues to face significant economic, political, and regional pressures, even as the government maintains control over key state institutions.