JEDDAH: As violent protests continue to break out across Iran, a leading member of the country鈥檚 opposition party has told Arab News that the 鈥渃leric鈥檚 inhumane regime,鈥� which has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution is on the verge of being ousted.
Shahriar Kia, a human-rights activist, political analyst, and member of the Iranian opposition 鈥� the People鈥檚 Mojahedin Organization of Iran 鈥� told Arab News that the protests, which began on Thursday, are a result of 鈥渙ver three decades of crackdown and plundering the Iranian people鈥檚 property and wealth by the clerics.鈥�
He also claimed that the Iranian regime has spent 鈥渂illions of dollars of the Iranian people鈥檚 money to expand their fundamentalism and terrorism across the Middle East, and to support the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.鈥�
Now, Kia said, 鈥渢he Iranian people have risen against the clerical regime in its entirety, demanding its overthrow. The people鈥檚 uprising in more than 50 cities reveals how the status quo, domestically and internationally, is ripe for regime change.鈥�
Kia鈥檚 words echoed those of Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, who said in a statement: 鈥淭he ongoing protests in different cities against the regime reveal the explosive state of Iranian society and the people鈥檚 desire for regime change.鈥�
鈥淚ranian protesters demand a free republic which respects its citizens鈥� equality and is based on separation of religion and state, where they can stay unharmed by poverty, unemployment and illness,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 strongly believe that peace and stability in the Middle East and the world over will be possible only through regime change in Iran,鈥� Kia told Arab News.
But if regime change is to happen, Iranians will likely pay a heavy price, as some have already.
鈥淔earing overthrow, and desperate to confront the popular nationwide uprising, the cleric鈥檚 inhumane regime has started blind killings, murdering more than a dozen protesters and detaining at least 1,000 individuals in the first four days of the uprising,鈥� Kia said.
This is not the first time that Iranian regime has faced protests, but Kia suggested the current protests are on an unprecedented scale 鈥� there is, he said, a 鈥渘ationwide鈥� movement.
Kia noted similarities with the revolution that brought the current regime to power in 1979.
鈥淏ack then, all protesters targeted the Shah鈥檚 dictatorship, seeking to overthrow the pillar of the monarchy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the current uprising, the people are placing the clerical regime鈥檚 main pillar in their crosshairs 鈥� the supreme leader. They are chanting 鈥楧eath to Khamenei鈥� and 鈥楧eath to the dictator.鈥� The uprising has terrified the regime, resulting in losing control of the status quo.鈥�
But while Kia believes the protesters have the strength to achieve their goal of regime change, he stressed the need for the international community to do its part. Iran has many enemies, both regionally and internationally, and Kia said it is time for them to step up.
鈥淥ne reason the Iranian regime has been able to continue its crimes inside the country, and against nations across the region, has been the West鈥檚 appeasement policy vis-脿-vis Tehran,鈥� he said.
Kia singled out the administration of previous US President Barack Obama as particularly culpable in this regard, suggesting it 鈥渆xtensively added to this regime鈥檚 lifespan.鈥�
鈥淎s the Iranian people flooded the streets in 2009 chanting 鈥楧eath to Khamenei,鈥� Obama stretched his hand out to Iran鈥檚 mullahs in friendship,鈥� he said. But now that President Donald Trump is in charge, Kia believes, 鈥渃ircumstances have changed.鈥�
Indeed, Trump is publicly backing the protesters, taking to Twitter on Jan. 1 to state, 鈥淚t is time for change.鈥�
Still, Kia pointed out, strong words need to be backed by strong action.
鈥淥f course, this policy must be completed with practical measures against repression inside Iran and abroad, and this regime鈥檚 meddling in the Middle East particularly Yemen, Iraq, and Syria,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 hope the West supports the Iranian Resistance to stop this regime鈥檚 increasing bloodshed. This will be the basis of the Iranian people鈥檚 relations with other countries in the future.鈥�
As things stand, Kia said, regime change in Iran is now inevitable, with the regime trapped in a no-win situation.
鈥淚f they launch a widespread crackdown, the resistance will flare up, and continue until the regime is overthrown,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if they don鈥檛 resort to oppressive measures, the demonstrations will only spread and again lead to the regime鈥檚 overthrow.
鈥淭he Iranian people and their organized resistance have made their decision,鈥� he continued, 鈥渢o forever rid the world of this regime.鈥�