
A coalition of former world leaders and senior politicians has declared its solidarity with the thousands of Iranians expected to march in Paris on February 8, 2025, advocating for a democratic republic in Iran. The Free Iran March seeks to reject both the current religious dictatorship and the rule of the former Shah, calling for the establishment of a secular, democratic government.
Marking the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 revolution, the signatories reaffirmed their support for the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy. The statement condemns the Iranian regime’s oppressive rule and human rights violations while rejecting the authoritarian rule of the past.
The coalition supports the Ten-Point Plan proposed by Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which received backing from over 4,000 MPs and 137 former world leaders in 2024. This plan is viewed as a viable blueprint for a democratic and secular Iran.
12 former leaders endorse 8 Feb #ParisFreeIranRally rejecting dictatorship in Iran and supporting a democratic republic
Former PMs of 🇮🇸🇧🇪🇫🇮🇷🇴🇺🇦🇸🇮🇮🇹🇸🇲🇦🇩🇲🇹🇽🇰 join global figures in supporting Maryam Rajavi’s 10-point plan for a free Iran
➡️ https://t.co/XiNjHsrxpI#FreeIran2025 https://t.co/VXd5ASlL7D pic.twitter.com/mqsG7Eq3DQ
— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) February 4, 2025
The statement urges governments worldwide to recognize the Iranian people’s right to self-determination and to support their movement for democracy and justice.
Prominent International Supporters
The Free Iran March has garnered the endorsement of a distinguished group of former prime ministers, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomatic leaders from across the world, including:
- Guy Verhofstadt – Former Prime Minister, Belgium
- Anneli Jäätteenmäki – Former Prime Minister, Finland
- Geir H. Haarde – Former Prime Minister, Iceland
- Petre Roman – Former Prime Minister, Romania
- Jaume Bartumeu-Cassany – Former Prime Minister, Andorra
- Yulia Tymoshenko – Former Prime Minister, Ukraine
- Janez Janša – Former Prime Minister, Slovenia
- Carlo Cottarelli – Former Prime Minister-Designate, Italy
- Giuseppe Maria Morganti – Former Captain Regent, San Marino
- Joseph Muscat – Former Prime Minister, Malta
- Avdullah Hoti – Former Prime Minister, Kosovo
Join us in Paris on February 8, 2025, to defend the Iranian right to justice, human rights, and freedom.
Paris: Place Denfert-Rochereau : 1400 CET#ParisFreeIranRally #FreeIran2025 pic.twitter.com/WVPO1Y6ggP— Women's Committee NCRI (@womenncri) February 4, 2025
The call for change is further bolstered by support from former high-ranking ministers and deputy ministers, including:
- John Baird – Former Foreign Minister, Canada
- Dick Spring – Former Foreign Minister, Ireland
- Anatol Șalaru – Former Defence Minister, Moldova
- Ignazio Marino – Former Mayor of Rome, Italy
- Nicola Renzi – Former Foreign Minister, San Marino
- Tonio Borg – Former Foreign Minister, Malta
- Jan-Erik Enestam – Former Secretary-General of the Nordic Council; Former Defence Minister, Finland
- Thomas E. Garrett – Former Secretary General of Community of Democracies (CoD), United States
- Audronius Ažubalis — Former Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE; Former Foreign Minister, Lithuania
- Maria Celeste Cardona — Former Justice Minister, Portugal
- Rowan Williams — Former Archbishop of Canterbury, United Kingdom
- Nicolas Walder — Member of Parliament, Switzerland
- Ellen Samyn — Member of Parliament, Belgium
- Milan Zver — Member of the European Parliament, Slovenia
- Amb. Ken Blackwell — Former US Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights, United States
- Tony Clement PC — Former Minister of Industry, Canada
- Amb. Mitchell Reiss — Former Director of Policy Planning, State Department, United States
- Robert Torricelli — Former US Senator, United States
- Louis J. Freeh — Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States
- Bob Blackman — Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
- Gerard Craughwell — Member of the Senate, Ireland
- Amb. Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. — Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, United States
- Matej Tonin — Former Deputy Prime Minister, Slovenia