On May 31, 2025, during a major international conference hosted by the Iranian Resistance, former German MP and Chair of the German Solidarity Committee for a Free Iran (DSFI), Leo Dautzenberg, called on European governments to abandon the failed policy of appeasement toward the Iranian regime and formally recognize the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
In his address, Dautzenberg emphasized that the Iranian regime is under unprecedented pressure — weakened by the collapse of regional allies like Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah, and internally challenged by the expanding the PMOI-led Resistance Units across Iran. He praised the Iranian Resistance’s remarkable progress, achieved at great cost, and warned that appeasement has allowed Tehran to spread extremism, manipulate institutions, and discredit pro-democracy forces across Europe.
Dautzenberg urged European leaders to stop hesitating and take a firm stand for freedom and democracy. He described the NCRI, along with Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, as the true partner for shared democratic values, and called for its political recognition.
He concluded with a warning: Europe must act now, or it may one day be forced to apologize for its silence in the face of a rising free Iran.
The following is a translated version of the speech.
#Paris –#FreeIran2025 Konferenz
Leo Dautzenberg: Ein Wandel in #Iran wird nur dann möglich, wenn die Politik der westlichen Beschwichtigung beendet wird. Diese Politik hat das Regime am Leben gehalten und ihm erlaubt:
· seine Einrichtungen in Europa als Stützpunkte für die… pic.twitter.com/scm19HNaDb— Javad Dabiran (@JavadDabiran) May 31, 2025
Dear President Rajavi, dear ladies and gentlemen, dear friends of a free Iran, and my dear friends in Ashraf 3 — I greet you all very warmly.
The Iranian mullah regime, ladies and gentlemen, is under strong pressure today. This has been emphasized repeatedly — and it is a positive development for the Iranian Resistance.
A regime that has sought its survival and expansion — above all — through the oppression of its own people, the export of terrorism, and warmongering, is now significantly weakened following the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the fall of one of its most important allies in Syria, Bashar al-Assad.
Another promising sign is the growth of the Resistance Units within Iran.
These Resistance Units pose a serious challenge to the dictatorship, and it has already been emphasized by previous speakers that the success achieved by the Iranian Resistance has come at a high cost in blood — and this must not be forgotten.
The prospect of change in Iran is now within reach.
Yet today, I would like to highlight an existing obstacle — one that lies in the hands of the Europeans, and thus, in our hands as well.
This obstacle — as has already been mentioned — is the policy of appeasement, which has significantly contributed to the survival of the dictatorship in Iran until now.
Leo Dautzenberg: The path of resistance has been paid in blood—and it will not be in vain. Appeasement has helped this dictatorship survive. The regime spreads lies and #misinformation in Europe to weaken the #NCRIAlternative.
https://t.co/VBx4m2ZnvO— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 31, 2025
This policy has enabled, and continues to enable, the regime to use facilities in Europe as bases for spreading fundamentalism, to infiltrate foreign policy institutions with its lobbyists, to discredit the voices of democratic forces like the National Council of Resistance, and to spread lies, propaganda, and disinformation — all without consequence.
From here, my dear friends, I want to raise an appeal — our shared appeal — to European governments: the time for hesitation is over. The time to act is now.
The National Council of Resistance is our partner in the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights — as clearly laid out in Mrs. Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan — and it must be politically recognized as such.
President Maryam Rajavi has expressed it clearly and concisely: It is possible, and it must be done.
We, too, can and must end the policy of appeasement — so that Europe does not one day have to apologize for its inaction in the face of a free Iran.
Thank you very much.