By: Abdolrahman Korki (Mahabadi)

For over four decades, the Iranian people have been resisting the religious dictatorship ruling their country. This resistance, rooted in the desire for freedom, justice, and human dignity, has raised its voice many times to reach the world. But the question is: After the 12-day war and the exposure of the Iranian regime’s vulnerabilities, has the West realized that it must stand with the Iranian people and their resistance? Or will it remain trapped in the snare of appeasement policies?

Foreign War and Appeasement: Two Sides of the Same Coin Against the Interests of the Iranian People

The 12-day war that took place in the year 1404 Hijri (2025 AD) between Iran and Israel once again demonstrated that neither external war nor appeasement with the religious dictatorship offers a solution to the problems of the Iranian people. While external attacks may seem to weaken the regime, they in fact embolden the dictatorship to suppress the Iranian people’s powerful movements for freedom and justice more aggressively. On the other hand, the West’s long-standing policy of appeasement with the Iranian regime has only served to strengthen this dictatorship, allowing it to violate human rights, support terrorism, interfere in regional affairs, and pursue its nuclear weapons program—thus endangering the region and the world.

Both approaches—war and appeasement—run counter to the interests of the Iranian people, the region, and even the world. Foreign war, instead of helping the people, provides the regime with a pretext to justify internal repression. As for appeasement, by offering unwarranted concessions, it keeps the regime in power and prolongs the suffering of the Iranian people. As some analysts have noted, the 12-day war revealed that the Iranian regime is not only weaker than it claims but also extremely fragile in the face of the Iranian people’s internal resistance.

The Third Solution: Supporting the Iranian People and Their Resistance

The solution proposed more than two decades ago by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, known as “The Third Option,” offers a real and sustainable path to ending the religious dictatorship. This solution relies neither on foreign war nor on appeasement with the dictatorial religious regime. Instead, it focuses on the power and will of the Iranian people to bring about regime change through organized and persistent struggle.

This solution calls for recognizing the rights of the Iranian people and their resistance. Proposed actions include: designating Khamenei’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, closing the regime’s embassies in various countries, activating the “snapback mechanism” to impose international sanctions on the ruling regime, and expelling the regime from international institutions it illegitimately occupies. These actions not only weaken the regime but also show the Iranian people that the world stands with them.

The Role of Resistance Units

Inside Iran, resistance units—the active arm of the resistance—stand up to the regime daily. These groups, with their bravery and sacrifices, challenge the regime and its repressive institutions. Their activities have proven that the “struggle for freedom” is alive at the heart of Iran, placing the regime in a constant dilemma. However, these efforts require international support. The West must abandon the backward and colonialist narratives that serve the regime and instead stand with the Iranian people.

Why Returning to the Previous Dictatorship Is Not a Solution

Some in the West still mistakenly believe that returning to the previous dictatorship (like the Pahlavi regime) could be an alternative to the current situation. However, this notion is not a solution—it merely perpetuates the current dictatorship. The Iranian people, having experienced two dictatorships, are seeking a democratic system based on the will of the people, particularly the separation of religion from state, as emphasized in the Iranian Resistance’s plan for a free Iran. Supporting the Iranian people and their resistance means recognizing their demands for freedom, equality, and justice.

The Need to End Western Appeasement with the Dictatorship

The 12-day war demonstrated that the Iranian regime is vulnerable to both internal and external pressure. But this weakness should not become an opportunity for further appeasement. The West must reconsider its policies and, instead of negotiating with a regime that has lost its legitimacy, support the resistance of the Iranian people. This support can include diplomatic recognition, targeted economic pressure, activating the snapback mechanism, and amplifying the voice of the Iranian people in international forums.

Conclusion

It is time for the world to acknowledge the truth about Iran: the ruling dictatorial regime is incompatible with modern human society. Every moment of delay in supporting the Iranian people and their resistance results in more bloodshed of innocents. The courageous and self-sacrificing resistance of the Iranian people has shown the path forward. The West must recognize and support this resistance and its demands, standing beside the Iranian people. The Third Option, outlined by the Iranian Resistance, serves not only the interests of the Iranian people but also the peace and stability of the region and the world. Let us end this endless repetition and build a brighter future for Iran and the world by supporting this solution.