Thousands of Iranian-Americans and human rights activists gathered outside the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to express solidarity with Iranian dissidents and voice opposition to the regime’s current leadership. The demonstration coincided with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s address to the U.N., where he accused the U.S. and Israel of engaging in ‘savage aggression’ and claimed that recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities violated international law, killing scientists and civilians.
Meanwhile, demonstrators waved Iranian flags and held signs bearing the words ‘Murderous Regime Agents’ in an effort to delegitimize Pezeshkian, whose policies have long drawn condemnation from Iranian exiles and human rights advocates. Protesters argued that the U.N. should not be granting a platform to Iran’s government, which they describe as an authoritarian state committing crimes against humanity. ‘We are here to say that the seat in the U.N. doesn’t belong to those murderous regime agents,’ said Mitra Samani, a former political prisoner who traveled from Los Angeles to participate in the rally.
Protest organizers emphasized the need for a democratic transition in Iran, calling for the U.S. to support reformist movements and hold Tehran accountable for its actions. Nasser Sharif, chair of the Iranian American Community of California, stated that thousands of participants gathered from across 40 U.S. states, all united by the belief that Iran’s current leadership is illegitimate. ‘We are asking the U.S. administration to put more pressure on the regime and side with the Iranian people and their desire for democratic change,’ he said.
The speech by Pezesh, who recently took office, was met with skepticism from international observers and analysts. Critics pointed to the irony of Iran’s growing influence on global institutions like the UN while its human rights record remains under scrutiny. Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, praised the protest as an ‘impressive show of force,’ highlighting the strength of the people’s resistance to the regime, which he claimed has no desire for foreign intervention or support.
Senior analysts at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies emphasized the growing pressure on Iran, including potential U.N. sanctions that could affect its economy. While U.S. officials claimed ongoing diplomatic talks were underway, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced any attempt at negotiation as ‘deception,’ given the ongoing military actions against its territory. The demonstrations outside the U.N. have been organized annually by Iranian-American activists, with participants like Samani vowing to remain a ‘voice of their friends they lost’ through continued resistance and advocacy.