NCRI Representative Tells Canadian Parliament Iranian Regime Is at Its Weakest Point

By Amr Gohar

OTTAWA, Canada –  Ali Safavi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told members of the Canadian Parliament on May 27 that Iran’s ruling clerical establishment is facing what he described as the weakest period in its history, arguing that growing domestic unrest and organized resistance movements continue to challenge the regime’s grip on power.

Speaking before Canadian lawmakers and guests at Parliament, Safavi praised Canada’s democratic values and thanked the country for recognizing the 1988 massacre of approximately 30,000 political prisoners in Iran, a tragedy he said still awaits justice.

Addressing what he described as key questions debated in Western capitals, Safavi rejected claims that Tehran emerged stronger after recent military confrontations. Instead, he argued that the economic, political, and social crises that fueled nationwide protests in recent years have intensified.

“The clerical regime today stands at perhaps the weakest point in its history,” Safavi said, citing economic hardship, corruption, political exclusion, and public dissatisfaction as factors driving continued unrest.

According to Safavi, the nationwide uprising that took place in January 2026 demonstrated that opposition to the government remains strong despite heightened repression. He argued that the regime’s recent increase in executions reflects fear of future protests rather than confidence in its position.

Safavi stated that at least 30 dissidents, including members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), have been executed since March 19, while several others remain on death row.

“The real war in Iran is not between Iran and foreign powers,” he said. “The real war has been waged for forty-seven years between the Iranian people and the religious dictatorship.”

The NCRI representative emphasized that democratic change would require both popular uprisings and organized resistance. He highlighted the role of PMOI Resistance Units operating inside Iran, describing them as networks that help sustain opposition activities despite government crackdowns.

Safavi also promoted the NCRI’s proposed political transition plan, based on NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. He said the framework calls for a transitional government followed by free elections, gender equality, separation of religion and state, abolition of the death penalty, and a non-nuclear Iran.

During his remarks, Safavi criticized exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, arguing that his political influence is based primarily on dynastic heritage rather than democratic legitimacy. He also questioned the effectiveness of Pahlavi’s political strategy during recent protests and criticized what he described as attempts by some supporters to revive symbols associated with Iran’s former monarchy.

Safavi concluded by urging Canada to continue supporting human rights and democratic accountability in Iran. He called on Ottawa to support investigations into executions and alleged crimes against humanity while backing what he described as the Iranian people’s aspirations for democratic change.

“The future of Iran belongs neither to foreign powers nor to hereditary entitlement,” Safavi told lawmakers. “It belongs to its people.”

The speech comes as debate continues among policymakers and Iranian opposition groups over the future direction of Iran and the prospects for political change following years of protests, economic challenges, and growing international scrutiny of Tehran’s human rights record.