Thousands Rally in Paris Against Iran's Leadership, Demand Change

Thousands of Iranians rallied in Paris, calling for increased international pressure on Tehran's ruling clerics and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people's fight for democracy. Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), urged world leaders to stand with the Iranian populace instead of appeasing the regime, while emphasizing the clerical government's vulnerabilities amid internal and external pressures. The rally coincided with heightened tensions over the looming execution of several opposition members and was marked by participants displaying Iranian flags and slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt expressed optimism that Iran could experience a transformation similar to Syria's, predicting that 2025 would be pivotal for change. The event also featured participation from Ukrainians, who accused Iran of supporting Russia in its ongoing conflict. Overall, demonstrators called for a democratic alternative to both monarchical and clerical rule in Iran.