Mehregan, The Rite of Defying Darkness

Statement

To the great and long-suffering people of Iran,

For more than forty-six years, a dark-minded regime has deceived the world with lies and manipulation, while keeping us, the people of Iran, in chains of repression. During these long decades, our ancient homeland has been held hostage; national wealth has been plundered, and the daily lives of Iranians have been reduced to humiliation, poverty, illness, and hopelessness. Today, our nation stands on the brink of total collapse and a human catastrophe, where every day of delay means a darker future for us and for our children.

Now, the “snapback mechanism” is on the verge of activation. Put simply, this means the return of all international sanctions against the Islamic Republic—sanctions that are the direct result of its reckless adventurism and terrorist actions. In the coming days and weeks, the regime will attempt to downplay this development, distract with side issues, or drown it in propaganda, in order to shift the crushing consequences entirely onto the shoulders of the Iranian people. This has been the regime’s method since day one. Since the fall of the national government in the tragedy of 1979, the people of Iran—deprived of any true representation in power—have felt, to their very core, the deepening decline of their homeland.

The first step is awareness and safeguarding what we have left. The value of our national currency has been eroding steadily, but once the snapback is activated, it will collapse at an accelerated pace. Your rial savings in banks and financial institutions are at risk of being wiped out. We strongly advise you to immediately convert your assets into secure and lasting stores of value, such as U.S. dollars or gold. This is not only a defense of your family’s future—it is a way to ensure that at least part of the cost of the regime’s warmongering and terrorism does not fall upon your shoulders.

The Islamic Republic is a regime of darkness. But we, the people of Iran, have for millennia been a nation of light. It is no coincidence that thousands of years ago, Iranians celebrated Mehregan—a rich symbol of devotion to love and illumination. Mehregan marks the triumph of light over darkness and the chaining of Zahhak. Today, we honor this ancient festival by igniting the torches of struggle, and with our collective will to end the reign of the tyrants, we will keep alight the eternal flame of Iran’s Mehr—the echo of a nation that will no longer endure captivity.

Signatories:

Iran-e-Novin Party

Institute for the Promotion of Open Society

Organization for a New Order of Iranians (Irano)

Republican Association in Support of Prince Reza Pahlavi

Liberal Women’s Organization

Soldiers of Light Association

Ariamehr Foundation

Iranian Women in Europe for Secular Democracy

Group for Freedom

Monarchist Association of Iran – Switzerland

Rastakhiz Iran Association

Iran Rescue Front

Association of Iranians in Cyprus

Supporters of Prince Reza Pahlavi in Japan

Sepidar – Women’s Party of Iran

Scene of Freedom Group

Mehr-e-Iran Foundation

Association of Iranian Human Rights & Allies (UK)

National Party of Iran

Iranian National Unity Movement

Iran-Pad World Organization

Anahita Association

Gen Z Organization

Center for Open Dialogue and Development

Council for Iranian Unity

Nationalists of Hamburg

Civil Institution of Hope

Mehr-e-Mihan Organization