On May 31, 2025, at the second session of the Free Iran Conference near Paris, Ola Elvestuen, Member of the Norwegian Parliament and former Minister of Climate and Environment, delivered a forceful speech calling on democratic nations to rally behind Iran’s organized resistance. Reflecting on Europe’s 80th anniversary commemorations of the end of World War II, Elvestuen drew powerful historical parallels between the European resistance movements of the 1940s and the Iranian people’s decades-long struggle for freedom today.
Elvestuen denounced the Iranian regime’s persistent campaign of demonization and disinformation targeting the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its supporters. He warned that authoritarian regimes are increasingly coordinating with each other, making it imperative for democracies to unite in solidarity with those who fight for freedom and democratic values.
Praising the NCRI and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, Elvestuen proudly affirmed that a majority of the Norwegian Parliament supports the Iranian Resistance. He urged intensified international pressure on the regime and reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to the vision of a free and democratic Iran.
The speech follows. Portions have been lightly edited for clarity and flow.
NÅ!
Et flertall på @Stortinget støtter kampen for et fritt Iran!
På «Free Iran 2025» konferansen i Paris kunngjorde en norsk delegasjon, bestående av @olaelvestuen, @larsrise og @rasmusjmh, at et flertall i Stortinget stiller seg bak den iranske motstandsbevegelsen og folkets… https://t.co/BaqnOPTKHq pic.twitter.com/Z9xGr9oNgq
— Unge norsk-iranere for demokrati (@UNID_) May 31, 2025
Mrs. Rajavi, dear friends, fighters for freedom,
This May has been marked all over Europe as the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In Norway, we are proud of the resistance movement during the war—stories of patriotism, of blood, toil, and sacrifice. But I must say, that was a struggle of five years.
The Iranian Resistance has now endured for decades upon decades. It has come at the cost of thousands upon thousands of lives lost, and countless others destroyed. And throughout all this time, the regime has continuously waged a campaign of demonization and lies against the resistance.
I mention this because during Norway’s struggle, too, it wasn’t just about bullets and beatings. It was also about relentless insults, threats, and accusations hurled at those who stood for freedom.
I know that Mrs. Rajavi once met one of our most famous resistance fighters, Gunnar Sønsteby. He told her that even in Norway, the “Milorg” resistance was called everything imaginable by the Nazis. But that did not deter the fighters—nor those who stood beside them on the right side of history.
And I say this because all of us here—parliamentarians who support the NCRI—know that the Iranian regime uses its agents and lobbyists to attack the resistance, and to attack those who stand up for its core values.
.@olaelvestuen: I’m proud that a majority in Norway’s Parliament supports the NCRI, the fight for freedom in Iran, and the Ten-Point Plan. We must take greater responsibility—stand with the resistance and speak out against the lies and demonization.https://t.co/PP0URQVbSi
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 31, 2025
This has always been their strategy. We see it in Norway constantly.
And we need to be better—stronger—at standing up for those fighting for freedom in Iran.
That’s why I am proud that a majority of parliamentarians in Norway support the NCRI, its struggle for a free Iran, and Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan. This is something for which we must take greater responsibility: supporting the Iranian Resistance.
We need to stand up for the NCRI. We need to speak up against those spreading lies and slander. We need to call out the ongoing demonization that aims to weaken the resistance.
And especially in today’s world—where dictatorships are working together more and more, from Russia to China, from North Korea to Iran—it is more important than ever that democracies stand united.
If there is one moment to support those struggling and fighting for democracy in Iran, it is now. We must increase the pressure on the regime. We must increase our support for the NCRI and for the implementation of the Ten-Point Plan. That is our task. That is our responsibility.
We must see a free and democratic Iran—not only for the Iranian people, but for the sake of global freedom and stability. We need to change the direction in which the world is heading. We need freedom, and we must do what is necessary to achieve it.
Thank you very much.