London – July 16, 2025 – In a significant gathering at the UK Parliament, a cross-party group of MPs and Peers, alongside legal experts and human rights advocates, convened to address the escalating crisis in Iran and the broader Middle East. Hosted by the British Committee for Iran Freedom, the conference focused on the “Third Option: Regime Change by Iran’s People and Resistance,” a path forward that rejects both foreign military intervention and the failed policy of appeasement toward the clerical regime.
The event took place at a critical juncture, following a recent 12-day conflict that brought the region to the brink of a wider war. Speakers from across the political spectrum voiced their robust support for the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy and endorsed the 10-Point Plan for a future republic, as articulated by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
Baroness O’Loan: A Principled ‘Third Option’ is the Only Path Forward
Baroness O’Loan, chairing the conference, opened the proceedings by highlighting the urgency of the situation. She noted that while the world’s attention was on the recent conflict, the Iranian regime had seized the opportunity to intensify its domestic crackdown, a sign she described as “fear, not of strength.” She criticized decades of Western policy as being “trapped between two failed approaches, military intervention and diplomatic appeasement.”
She introduced the central theme of the conference: “The Iranian resistance movement led by the NCRI and madam Rajavi offers a principled third option, a regime change by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.”
Baroness O’Loan also read a powerful message from NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, who stated that the recent war had illuminated an “undeniable truth”: the solution lies in the Third Option. In her message, Mrs. Rajavi detailed the regime’s new wave of repression, including the sentencing of three political prisoners—Farshad Etemadi-Far, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Mardasi (Hamidavi)—to death on charges of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). She condemned these actions as proof of the regime’s fear of its own people and its recognition of the PMOI as the primary threat and democratic alternative.
Mrs. Rajavi’s message concluded with a call for the UK Parliament to take the initiative in recognizing the Iranian people’s struggle, triggering the snapback mechanism for UN sanctions, designating the regime as a threat to international peace, and conditioning all relations on the immediate cessation of executions.
A policy that, for over four decades, has only fueled insecurity, instability, warmongering, and terrorism must come to an end. Instead, the world should stand behind the very values and principles outlined in the joint statement by the majority of members of both houses of the… pic.twitter.com/ovPOsWRdh4
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 16, 2025
Lord Hamilton: Regime Change Must Be the Top Priority
Lord Hamilton delivered a succinct and forceful message, emphasizing that the primary objective of any sound policy toward Iran must be the removal of the current regime.
He condemned the theocratic state for its persecution of women and its role as a global exporter of terrorism. Lord Hamilton left no room for ambiguity, declaring, “The top priority has got to be regime change. We’ve got to get rid of these Mullahs… We have no interest whatsoever in them remaining in power, and we must get rid of them as soon as we possibly can.”
Ben Lake MP: An Invaluable Opportunity for Democratic Change
Ben Lake MP underscored the unique vulnerability of the Iranian regime, describing it as “never so brittle.” He argued that this fragility presents an unprecedented opportunity for the international community, and the UK in particular, to support the Iranian people’s aspirations for self-determination.
He praised the Ten-Point Plan for its democratic vision, noting its most powerful aspect is that “it’ll be for the Iranian people, to decide.” Mr. Lake urged the UK government to seize this “invaluable opportunity here to show some leadership” by supporting the opposition, thereby championing the founding ideals of the UN Charter, including justice, democracy, and the self-determination of peoples.
Lord Bellingham: The UK Must Be on the Right Side of History
Lord Bellingham identified the current moment as a “turning point” and lauded Mrs. Maryam Rajavi for her “statesmanship” and “good judgment.” He stressed that her Ten-Point Plan consistently emphasizes a democratic path forward where “the people of Iran to decide their future.”
He called for the “entire Western world” to unite behind the opposition in Iran, led by figures like Mrs. Rajavi, and warned against the futility of a “middle road.” He posed a direct challenge to the government: “Does the UK government want to be on the right side of history or not?” Lord Bellingham asserted that the regime’s overthrow is inevitable and will come from within, urging the UK to listen to the representatives of the Iranian people and provide “overwhelming support.”
We respectfully urge the esteemed members of both houses of the UK Parliament to take the initiative in proposing a resolution that:https://t.co/TGljEV5ofw pic.twitter.com/frE5X6PESO
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 16, 2025
Lord McCabe: End the Contradictory Policy of Threatening the Opposition
Lord McCabe offered a nuanced perspective, cautioning against actions that could play into the regime’s narrative of “hostile external forces.” He instead advocated for a focus on the “third option” championed by Mrs. Rajavi, where the Iranian people take control of their own destiny.
He detailed the regime’s barbarism, including over 700 executions and the IRGC’s calls for a repeat of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners. He condemned the paradoxical Western policy that simultaneously calls for regime change while threatening the opposition with terrorist proscription if they defend themselves. “That’s the ridiculous position we’ve placed the opposition in at the moment,” he argued. He concluded by endorsing the Ten-Point Plan‘s vision for a free, secular, non-nuclear, and democratic Iran.
Lord Whitty: Appeasement and Bombs Have Failed, Support the Democratic Alternative
Lord Whitty stated unequivocally that both appeasement and military intervention have failed to resolve the crisis. “It is clear that appeasement didn’t work. It is clear that bombs from America and Israel, do not work,” he said. “What is required… is support for the democratic alternative within Iran.”
He called on the UK government to proscribe the IRGC and highlighted a recent parliamentary report showing the regime’s attempts to “subvert our own democracy” and threaten activists in the UK. Lord Whitty firmly rejected any notion of a monarchist restoration, stating, “We do not support anybody who’s pretending that the Shah’s son is the alternative. We must back the NCRI and Madam Rajavi.”
Struan Stevenson: Rejecting Both the Mullahs and the Monarchy
Struan Stevenson, a former Member of the European Parliament, delivered a sharp critique of Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah, whom he labeled the “clown prince.” Mr. Stevenson argued that Pahlavi has “spectacularly backfired” by misreading the political landscape and siding with Israel in a bid to inspire an uprising.
He detailed the deep-seated popular resentment toward the Pahlavi dynasty, whose hated secret police, SAVAK, were infamous for torture and executions. He highlighted the popular protest slogan, “down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Mullahs,” as evidence that Iranians reject both dictatorships. Mr. Stevenson further condemned Pahlavi for seeking to communicate with the IRGC, the regime’s “Gestapo,” an act he described as an outrage to the victims of the regime. He concluded that the Iranian people have recognized Mrs. Maryam Rajavi as the leader who reflects their democratic aspirations.
MP Jim Shannon: A Call for Direct Diplomatic Channels with the NCRI
Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, expressed his full support for Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan and highlighted the regime’s violent assault on religious and ethnic minorities. He cited a UN report warning that the regime’s rhetoric mirrors the period leading up to the 1988 massacre.
He specifically named political prisoners at risk of execution—Farshad Etemadifar, Masoud Jamei, and Alireza Mardasi (Hamidavi)—urging action to save their lives. Mr. Shannon called for the full proscription of the IRGC, calling it the “Supreme Leader’s private army of terror.” His key policy recommendation was a direct challenge to the government: “to open a direct diplomatic channel with madam Rajavi and the NCRI so that they can explain the Ten-Point Plan for the future.”
🇬🇧 In a cross-party session in the UK Parliament, MPs and Lords voiced support for the #Iranian people’s Third Option: regime change by the people & NCRI’s organized resistance — not appeasement or war.
They called for a decisive UK policy shift.#ThirdOption #NCRIalternative pic.twitter.com/gGKP6y1VB4— Academics In Exile Association (@iranianacademic) July 17, 2025
Sir Desmond Swayne MP: A Moment of Opportunity to Seize
Sir Desmond Swayne MP made a concise but impactful contribution, emphasizing the critical nature of the current moment. He urged his fellow parliamentarians to unite in their efforts to support the movement for a free Iran. “This is clearly, a very important moment,” he stated. “It is a moment of opportunity that we must take.”
Lord Singh of Wimbledon: A Moral Imperative to Support the Third Option
Speaking as a Sikh, Lord Singh framed the struggle in Iran as a matter of “human dignity, religious freedom, and moral clarity.” He described the regime’s recent crackdown as the actions of a government “deeply afraid of its own people.” He identified the NCRI and its President-elect, Mrs. Rajavi, as the true threat to the regime because “they represent a democratic alternative.”
He praised the NCRI for offering not just a vision but also the “capacity and Resistance Units to mobilize and organize people towards the establishment of a truly secular state.” Lord Singh urged the UK government to endorse the “important Third Option” and Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, stating it “deserves our full support.”
Dowlat Norouzi: The Only Viable Option is Regime Change by the People
Dowlat Norouzi, the NCRI’s Representative in the UK, provided a detailed perspective from the Iranian Resistance. She argued that the policy of appeasement had tragically led to war and that the only viable solution is the “Third Option”—regime change led by the Iranian people and their organized resistance, the PMOI/NCRI, and its Resistance Units inside Iran. She dismissed any hope for reform as an “illusion.”
She described the regime not as an “axis of evil” but as the “heart of evil” and a major threat to global security due to its nuclear program, which she said could produce at least 10 nuclear bombs. Ms. Norouzi issued urgent calls for action: blacklist the IRGC, reimpose the six UN Security Council resolutions, and for the UK to “take the lead in the European Union” in adopting a policy of firm support for the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations. In a later intervention, she again raised the cases of the political prisoners sentenced to death, urging parliamentarians to pressure the UK government and UN bodies to act to save their lives.
Baroness Verma: Women’s Leadership is Central to a Democratic Iran
Baroness Verma, who recently attended the Free Iran World Summit in Paris, spoke of the inspiring “strength, the unity, and clarity of purpose” among Iranians united behind Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. She asserted, “We reject war. We reject appeasement. We support the third option, which… is regime change by the Iranian people and their organized resistance.”
She condemned the regime’s disinformation campaigns and sharply criticized recent overtures by Reza Pahlavi to the IRGC as “dangerously irresponsible and an insult to the many victims.” Baroness Verma stressed the centrality of women’s leadership in any credible opposition, praising the NCRI because it “places women at the forefront.” She detailed the plan’s commitments to complete gender equality, the abolition of the death penalty, and a non-nuclear Iran, concluding, “The people of Iran will remember who stood with them at these dark times. We must be on the right side of history.”
Baroness Redfern: Standing with the Brave Women of Iran
Baroness Redfern focused her remarks on the immense suffering and bravery of Iranian women, particularly political prisoners. She spoke of the horrific conditions in Qarchak Prison, a former livestock facility where women and their young children are held for peaceful activism.
She expressed her deep admiration for those who endure “the most barbaric situation” for demanding basic rights and called on the international community to “stand tall for a free, democratic, and inclusive alternative.” Her poignant tribute underscored the human cost of the regime’s tyranny, praising the “sheer bravery of the Iranians who have made it their life’s cause to fight for their country to be a free and democratic country.”
David Pinto Duschinsky MP: Supporting an Iran Free of Nuclear Weapons and Missiles
David Pinto Duschinsky MP affirmed his steadfast support for the cause of democracy and freedom in Iran. He paid tribute “to the brave people who have risked so much to fight for democracy in Iran.” Looking to the future, he stressed the need to push not only for democracy but also for a fundamental change in Iran’s military posture. “Clearly, we also need to push for an Iran that abjures nuclear weapons; they cannot be allowed to continue that program,” he stated, adding, “I want to see an Iran without a missile program as well.”
Lord David Hacking: A Plea for Practical Support for Demonstrators
Lord David Hacking brought a practical parliamentary and humanitarian perspective. He noted he has tabled a debate in the House of Lords on Iran and expressed frustration that Mrs. Rajavi was apparently not being given a visa to visit the UK, calling it a “domestic issue that we should take up.”
His primary concern was the safety of protesters inside Iran. He made a “very strong plea for further thought to be given to how we can assist the people of Iran” to demonstrate safely and effectively. Lord Hacking argued that popular movements are only efficient if “well-organized and well-supported,” and called for a strategy to help build sheer numbers, noting that “even the IRGC will have difficulties coping with large numbers of demonstrators.”
Gurinder Singh Josan MP: Now is the Time to Act
Gurinder Singh Josan MP began by asserting that “the regime stands at its weakest point since 1979,” weakened by the loss of strategic allies and the impact of recent conflicts. He stressed that change will ultimately come from within, driven by “Iran’s people and the Iranian Resistance.”
The central question for international parliamentarians, he argued, is “what can we do… to support that change?” While rejecting direct military involvement, he insisted that “there must be other things that we can do” to enable a successful democratic transition. He concluded with a sense of urgency, stating, “Now is the time.”
Massoud Zabeti: The Third Option is the Only Path to Global Security
Massoud Zabeti, a London-based lawyer, provided a comprehensive analysis of the regime’s nature, which he said survives on “rape, torture, executions, murders, and arrests” at home while exporting “death, destruction, and chaos” across the Middle East. He debunked the “fallacy” of moderates within the regime, stating, “There is no such thing within the Iranian regime as a moderate.”
He credited the Iranian Resistance with tirelessly working for 45 years to expose the regime’s crimes, including its clandestine nuclear program. Mr. Zabeti powerfully articulated the case for the Third Option, explaining that it is appeasement that ultimately leads to war. The only correct policy, he concluded, is “to adopt a strong and decisive policy against the Iranian regime, recognize the right of the Iranian people to resist… and allow the Iranian people to bring about the change that they desire without external interference.”
The conference concluded with a powerful and unified message: the international community must abandon the failed policies of the past. A clear consensus emerged among the speakers that supporting the Iranian people and their organized Resistance, as embodied by the NCRI and its democratic platform, is not only a moral imperative but the only viable strategy to ensure a peaceful, secular, and non-nuclear future for Iran and a more stable world.