“Iran’s Streets: The Battle the Regime Fears More Than War,” Says NCRI Official

By Amr Gohar

Paris, France –  While Iranian authorities continue to showcase organized rallies and public demonstrations as evidence of national unity, opposition figures argue that the regime’s greatest concern lies not in foreign threats but within Iran itself.

According to Ali Safavi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), recent developments following the latest regional conflict have exposed what he described as the regime’s deep fear of public unrest and organized opposition.

“The regime is attempting to convince the world that the crowds it organizes represent genuine popular support,” Safavi said. “In reality, these gatherings are mobilized through the Basij network, state institutions, and official structures of control. The extensive security measures surrounding them reveal a government that fears its own people more than it fears war.”

Safavi argued that the Iranian government’s response to the recent conflict reflects growing concern over domestic dissent. Rather than pursuing political openness, he said authorities have increased arrests, tightened internet restrictions, and expanded security measures.

“A government confident in public support would not need such measures,” he said.

He pointed to remarks by Iranian Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan, who reportedly stated that more than 6,500 people had been arrested since the outbreak of the conflict. According to Safavi, the figure illustrates the level of concern among Iranian authorities regarding potential unrest.

Safavi also claimed that repeated references by security officials to the opposition group known as the MEK and its Resistance Units indicate that the government views organized resistance movements as a significant challenge to its stability.

He further asserted that recent political executions are intended not only to punish individuals but also to deter broader public dissent. However, he said such actions may also signal official concerns about the possibility of a larger nationwide uprising.

“The regime understands that social anger alone is not enough to bring change,” Safavi said. “What it fears most is an organized movement capable of transforming public dissatisfaction into a political force.”

Looking ahead, Safavi highlighted a major gathering of Iranian opposition supporters scheduled for June 20, 2026, in Paris. He said the event would demonstrate to the international community that there is a democratic and organized alternative to the current government in Tehran.

According to Safavi, the opposition’s objective is the establishment of a democratic republic based on freedom, political pluralism, and the rule of law.

“Wars may damage infrastructure, but what the regime truly fears is the Iranian people reclaiming their streets,” Safavi said. “The future of Iran will not be determined by state-organized spectacles or propaganda campaigns, but by the ability of the Iranian people and their organized resistance to achieve democratic change and end decades of dictatorship.”

The Iranian government has consistently rejected such claims, maintaining that it enjoys broad public support and characterizing opposition groups as foreign-backed organizations seeking to undermine the country’s stability.