Addressing the second day of the Free Iran 2026 World Summit in Paris on June 21, former Member of the European Parliament Paulo Casaca delivered a defiant message of solidarity with the Iranian Resistance. Reflecting on his two-decade-long history of supporting the cause, Casaca recalled the turbulent summer of 2003, when the regime sought to suppress the movement through mass arrests and international blacklisting. He argued that these historical efforts to dismantle the opposition were total failures, asserting that the regime has learned nothing from its past defeats.
Casaca dismissed the current state of the Iranian leadership, labeling the regime’s internal maneuvers as mere “theatrics.” He highlighted the death of the supreme leader as a critical turning point that has left the establishment in a weakened, illegitimate position. Despite the continued presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Casaca maintained that the regime lacks the fundamental support of the Iranian populace, who he noted continue to voice their hatred for the clerical rule through public protests.
Directing his remarks toward the Iranian Resistance residents in Albania and NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi, Casaca predicted the imminent collapse of the current authorities and those he described as illegitimate pseudo-opposition factions. He concluded his speech with an optimistic forecast for the future, declaring that Iran will soon transition toward a democratic model, guided by the leadership of Mrs. Rajavi, whom he characterized as the most exemplary political leader he has ever encountered.
The full text of Paulo Casaca‘s speech follows:
Dear Madam Maryam Rajavi,
Dear Ashrafians that are listening to us from Albania,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I do remember, nearly 23 years ago, the 3rd of July, 2003. It was my very first time here in Auvers-sur-Oise.
The day before, the 2nd of July, 2003, as I was speaking to the press for the release of Madam Maryam Rajavi, I was interrupted saying, “Well, she was just put out of prison.”
And the next day, I was here for my very first time.
And Struan [Stevenson] already said that, and many people stressed it, these were difficult times.
They thought that they would crush and eliminate the Iranian Resistance. They put hundreds in prison. They persecuted. They wanted to get rid of any opposition to the Iranian despotic regime.
Terrorist list—for ages, we fought it, everywhere, every day. And they lost, and they were wrong.
And now, they are trying to do it again. They learned nothing. They understood nothing. They are absolutely dead wrong.
This regime, forget about the theatrics. The religious leader is dead. They suffered a major blow.
They have this Islamic Revolutionary Guard [Corps], these armed people, but they have no legitimacy.
The people hate them. The Iranian people went to the streets showing their hate for them. Forget about the theatrics and the comings and goings.
These guys that are tyrannizing your country, plus the other clowns that appear trying to pretend they are opposition, they are finished.
You will be free sooner rather than later.
Iran will rise again as an example for the whole world for freedom and democracy with the very best political leader I have ever met in my life, Maryam Rajavi.