WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Saturday, May 16, 2026, thousands of Iranians and prominent American statesmen gathered in the U.S. capital for the massive Washington Free Iran Rally, sending a resounding message of solidarity to the rising generation of activists inside Iran. Organized amid a worsening domestic crisis in Iran, the demonstration served as a powerful declaration that the ruling religious fascism is trapped in an architectural impasse, crumbling under the weight of its own economic failures and a brutal “strategy of the noose”.
International keynote speakers and Iranian youth leaders united to condemn the clerical regime’s surging execution rates, while systematically rejecting any return to monarchical autocracy, presenting Mrs. Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan as the definitive blueprint for a free, secular, and democratic republic.
In a powerful keynote address transmitted directly to the demonstration, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), declared that lasting peace in the Middle East is fundamentally unattainable without the complete overthrow of the Velayat-e Faqih dictatorship. Mrs. Rajavi noted that the mullahs are ensnared in a terminal impasse following the nationwide uprisings and brutal massacres of January 2026, forcing them to rely on widespread internet blackouts, arbitrary street searches, and a bloody purge of political prisoners to suppress dissent.
She honored the supreme sacrifice of eight People’s Mojahedin (PMOI/MEK) members and seventeen rebellious protesters recently sent to the gallows, highlighting the heroic words of Vahid Bani-Amerian, who defiantly warned the regime before his execution: “Rest assured, if you execute me and those like me, we shall only multiply.”
Message to the demonstration by Iranians in Washington, D.C.
The people of Iran are marching toward a future defined by the ballot box—a future of pluralism, autonomy for our diverse ethnic nationalities, the equal participation of women in societal leadership, and the separation… pic.twitter.com/m9bIUCrQIO— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) May 16, 2026
Mrs. Rajavi emphasized that the relentless daily operations of the Resistance Units—buoyed by a daring assault carried out by 250 MEK freedom fighters against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s headquarters just weeks prior—prove that the regime has failed to obstruct the impending uprising. Condemning the dual threats facing the Iranian people, she forcefully critiqued both the Western policy of appeasement and the rootless remnants of the Shah’s dictatorship as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” seeking to resurrect the torturous SAVAK secret police.
Mrs. Rajavi concluded by reaffirming that the National Liberation Army (NLA) remains the singular path to freedom, calling on the international community to block all diplomatic concessions, proscribe the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and recognize the Iranian people’s impending march toward a democratic society governed by the ballot box, gender equality, and pluralism.
Dr. Anahita Sami, an immigration lawyer based in McLean and a prominent Iranian-American Community (OIAC) member, opened the rally by drawing attention to the raw human cost of the ongoing domestic resistance inside Iran. She observed that a new, fearless generation has looked dictatorship squarely in the eye and refused to kneel before tyranny. Dr. Sami highlighted the immense bravery of the young men and women within the internal resistance units, the Resistance Units, who risk everything to confront the regime’s repressive apparatus.
The speaker read aloud the names of executed political prisoners—including Pouya Ghabadi, Vahid Bani Amerian, and Babak Alipour—noting that the mullahs’ reliance on the gallows has backfired, turning every martyr into an uncontainable wildfire. Dr. Sami concluded her remarks by stressing that the youth completely reject the “Shah and the mullahs” distinction, demanding a democratic republic built upon separate state and religious institutions, gender equality, and the comprehensive Ten-Point Plan envisioned by the NCRI leadership.
Former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy delivered an impassioned speech expressing profound gratitude for the masterful leadership of Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, who has successfully preserved the movement’s focus on democracy, tolerance, and human dignity despite profound personal and organizational suffering. Congressman Kennedy emphasized that a confident regime does not rush architectural and electrical engineers to the gallows, noting that the recent executions of MEK veterans like the 67-year-old Abolhassan Montazer reveal a deep-seated, paralyzing fear of another domestic uprising.
He lauded the organized network of internal Resistance Units, detailing how they successfully executed a series of coordinated, province-wide operations across 15 Iranian cities just last week, successfully hitting IRGC and Basij operational bases. Turning his focus to history, Kennedy directly challenged Western policymakers who condemn the current theocracy but ignore the brutal legacy of the Shah’s SAVAK secret police, arguing that the MEK maintains unmatched legitimacy because it has fought against both forms of tyranny for nearly five decades.
Kennedy stated that the Ten-Point Plan offers a precise roadmap for free elections and an independent judiciary, concluding with an evocative reference to his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, asserting that the global struggle for Iranian freedom is a universal human cause.
Former General @GeneralClark spoke at the Free Iran Rally 2026.
General Clark highlighted how the brutality showed by the regime is a sign of weakness and fragility.
He also acknowledged the bravery displayed by the Iranian people despite the threat of executions. pic.twitter.com/EsFSMM97sa
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) May 16, 2026
Ambassador Carla Sands, former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, brought sharp diplomatic clarity to the event, explaining that the long-standing Western policy of appeasement has systematically attempted to marginalize and demonize the organized resistance to protect the ruling mullahs. Ambassador Sands argued that the existence of a highly organized, disciplined democratic alternative like the NCRI effectively shatters the false narrative that the world must choose between the current theocracy or absolute chaos.
She recounted the moving, defiant display of six MEK heroes who stood shoulder to shoulder singing anthems of resistance in the prison yard of Ghezel Hesar directly before their execution. Sands leveled a scathing critique against the supporters of the self-styled heir to the throne, Reza Pahlavi, noting that monarchist groups across Europe have openly glorified the SAVAK, marching with insignia representing an era defined by torture chambers and political repression.
Ambassador Sands reminded the audience that the Shah’s destruction of the secular, democratic opposition directly enabled Ruholla Khomeini to hijack the 1979 revolution. She urged the United States to treat the internal resistance as an irreplaceable ally, support the upcoming massive rally in Paris on June 20, and formally recognize the right of the Iranian people to overthrow the IRGC.
Representing the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI/KDPI) to the United States, Hejar Berenji presented a powerful argument for a decentralized future for Iran. Berenji condemned the clerical regime for utilizing drones and diplomacy to buy time while simultaneously executing citizens and bombing Kurdish regions. He stated unequivocally that the current regime cannot be moderated or reformed, meaning that its total toppling is the only viable path forward.
NOW: Former US Representative Patrick Kennedy speaks at the #DCFreeIranRally to #StopExecutionsInIran and support a democratic republic in Iran pic.twitter.com/h7gm1H7ieM
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) May 16, 2026
Berenji emphasized that real national unity cannot be built through forced silence or another centralized dictatorship, declaring: “No dictatorship with turban, no dictatorship with crown”. He highlighted seven decades of PDKI struggle for secularism and gender equality, noting that Kurdistan is an essential part of the solution for a future federal state that recognizes the national rights of all marginalized communities, including Baluchis, Arabs, and Azeris.
Berenji closed with a direct message to Washington, demanding an immediate end to negotiations over the heads of the Iranian people and a complete rejection of regional appeasement.
Youth speaker Kimia Arya, a biology student at the University of Houston, spoke on behalf of a new generation of Iranian activists who are at the very forefront of tearing down the walls of tyranny. Arya expressed deep solidarity with the courageous young women and girls who faced brutal IRGC massacres during the nationwide protests of January 2026.
She pointed out that women have fundamentally shattered the foundations of fear and obedience under the inspirational leadership of Maryam Rajavi, who has successfully trained thousands of women to view themselves as primary political leaders. Arya noted that the current wave of executions does not project state strength, but rather exposes a paralyzing weakness from a regime that is deeply terrified of its students and youth. She concluded by stating that the younger generation has permanently lost its fear and will accept nothing less than a forward-looking republic completely free of both the turban and the crown.
The Honorable @CarlaHSands spoke at the Free Iran Rally 2026 in Washington D.C.
Amb. Sands, amongst other things, commended the bravery of the Iranian people and demanded accountability for the horrific executions taking place. pic.twitter.com/giHgw6ePIs
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) May 16, 2026
Ali Ziaie, a former Canadian Wushu champion and NYU political science graduate, shared a deeply personal perspective, describing how his father’s past as a political prisoner taught him from childhood that simply uttering the name of the MEK carried the penalty of execution. Ziaie expressed immense admiration for the internal Resistance Units that catalyzed nationwide uprisings, paying the ultimate price with their lives.
He declared that every execution serves as an official confession by the mullahs that they have lost control of the nation’s soul. Ziaie warned opportunists lurking in the shadows that the Iranian youth will never allow the blood of over 120,000 historic martyrs to be exploited to revive a past monarchical tyranny. He concluded by urging the international community to realize that change cannot be imported from foreign powers, calling for formal global recognition of the Ten-Point Plan as the sole unifying vision for a democratic future.
General (Ret.) Wesley K. Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, delivered an expert military and strategic assessment of the Iranian crisis, stating that the organized political resistance led by the MEK and NCRI is the only force capable of averting a global catastrophe. General Clark provided critical context regarding recent Western military engagements, explaining that while a bombing campaign was undertaken to degrade the regime’s nuclear and military equipment, this defensive action was directed solely at the hostage-taking theocracy, not the civilian population.
The Honorable @PJK4brainhealth spoke at the Free Iran Rally 2026, showing his support for the Iranian People and demanding accountability for the mass executions being carried out by the regime.
FULL SPEECH: pic.twitter.com/RJYIJVMVjs
— OIAC: Organization of Iranian American Communities (@OrgIAC) May 16, 2026
He noted that historical data from the January 26 protests showed that peaceful protest alone will not bring change, as evidenced by the fact that thousands of citizens were gunned down in the streets by state authorities. Clark asserted that airplanes flying at 35,000 feet, aircraft carriers, and bunker-busting bombs are merely peripheral; the root cause of regional instability rests inside the regime itself, which can only be dismantled through organized, internal armed resistance. He lauded the MEK’s 47 years of discipline in the face of infiltration and false terror labels, concluding that the regime cannot hide from the sincere anger of the Iranian people.
The rally also featured a special broadcast message from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who extended his warm regards to the assembled proponents of a free Iranian republic. Giuliani stated that the current theocracy is rapidly collapsing from both the inside and the outside, asserting that its demise is an absolute matter of “when, not if”. He emphasized that the structural wisdom of Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which is now three decades old, serves as an essential constitutional guidepost for a post-regime transition. Drawing on historical parallels from his work under President Ronald Reagan, Giuliani warned that the ruling mullahs represent an irrational, insane group of religious fanatics who can never be allowed to attain nuclear capability, as they lack the basic survival instincts of traditional geopolitical adversaries.
NOW: Thousands in #DCFreeIranRally to #StopExecutionsInIran and support a democratic republic in Iran pic.twitter.com/slDw5XEH1U
— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) May 16, 2026
Closing out the line-up of speakers, Bishop Dr. Angel L. Nuñez, Senior Pastor of the Bilingual Christian Church of Baltimore, spoke on behalf of Hispanic and Christian communities standing in absolute solidarity with the Iranian Resistance. Dr. Nuñez stated that the cutting off of the internet and the sudden surge in political executions are clear indicators of a desperate regime trying to silence the voice of its people. He emphasized that this struggle transcends traditional politics or regional warfare, describing it as a fundamental humanitarian obligation to support a hurting, broken population that has lost everything in pursuit of basic human liberties. Dr. Nuñez concluded with a powerful call for an immediate end to all domestic executions, asserting that a democratic republic will inevitably rise from the ashes of the current theocracy through direct regime change enacted by the people of Iran themselves.