US-Iran conflict: What are some of the resistance groups?
President Donald Trump, one day after the attacks, spoke about the idea of a regime change in Iran, contradicting messaging from his top national security advisers.
So, what are some of those organizations that could help the United States establish a possible new regime?
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The National Council of Resistance of Iran was founded back in 1981. Its obligation has been to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The political coalition comprises different Iranian dissident groups constituting a parliament-in-exile.
In 2002, the NCRI exposed the existence of an undisclosed uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, leading to concerns about Iran's nuclear program. Over the years, the NCRI has received support from U.S. Congress and U.S. officials.
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The NCRI has acknowledged that the current regime is facing a deep economic crisis consisting of high unemployment, rampant inflation and widespread poverty. Far beyond international sanctions, the current crisis is the result of the country's economic structure being destroyed by government policies, incompetent administration, and widespread corruption involving the entire regime.
The regime also saw uprisings in 2018, 2019, and 2020, which clearly showed that the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people support fundamental change. This position spans all demographics and is especially prevalent among poor Iranians who were wrongly perceived as a reliable base of support for the regime.
The National Movement of the Iranian Resistance is a group of pro-opposition figures to fight against the ruling regime in Iran.
Started in 1959, the organization's purpose has been to establish a government based on national sovereignty and social justice, separate religion from government in all aspects of the country, and maintain the independence and territorial integrity of the country and national solidarity.
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This organization has several publications and two radio stations.
The People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran is the largest and longest-standing Iranian opposition group with a history of struggling for freedom and democracy in Iran.
The PMOI played a major role in preventing the Iranian regime from obtaining atomic weapons by first unveiling its nuclear program in 2002.
The group has also been a vital source of information about Tehran's terrorist agendas in the Middle East region and its human rights violations in Iran. The PMO has long been against Tehran's meddling in neighboring countries, which has been paid for from the Iranian people's pockets.
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The PMOI also maintains civil relations with the Syrian opposition and supports the Syrian people's struggle for freedom from dictatorship.
Reza Pahlavi is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Shah, who was the leader of Iran until he was forced out by the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Pahlavi, in recent days, has come out and argued that the Islamic Republic has reached its end and is collapsing. 'What has begun is irreversible,' he said. 'The future is bright, and together we will navigate this sharp turn in history. Now is the time to stand; it is time to take back Iran.'
Pahlavi is notorious for his pro-Western stance and oil partnerships with the United States and Britain, and he introduced land reforms and women's rights to Iran.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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