Iran continues to face mounting internal pressure as widespread protests, economic hardship, and systematic government repression create a volatile situation across the country. According to reports from the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition organization, 2025 has witnessed an intensification of both regime crackdowns and popular resistance, painting a picture of a nation in profound crisis.

Escalating State Repression

The Iranian government’s use of capital punishment has reached alarming proportions, according to NCRI documentation. In just five days during June 2025, the regime reportedly executed 35 prisoners—averaging one execution every 3.5 hours. These executions occurred across multiple prisons including Qezelhessar, Ahar, Ardabil, Arak, Isfahan, Zanjan, Malayer, Karaj, and Shiraz, indicating a coordinated nationwide campaign. The victims included both common criminals and political prisoners, with ethnic minorities among those executed. One notable case involved Mojahed Korkor, described as an “uprising prisoner,” whose execution on June 11 highlights the regime’s targeting of political dissidents.

Targeting Families of Political Prisoners

Families of political prisoners in Iran endure profound employment and educational disruptions, as state authorities frequently retaliate against them by orchestrating job dismissals and imposing barriers to higher education solely due to their association with detained relatives. This practice effectively punishes entire families for the political activities of one member, creating a climate of fear and social ostracization. In many cases, the regime escalates its tactics through secondary arrests, targeting family members—including minors—as leverage to pressure prisoners into forced confessions or silence. Such arrests serve both as psychological warfare and a method of collective punishment. Additionally, prison visits, which should provide brief moments of solace and support, are often turned into opportunities for intimidation, manipulation, and coercion. Families report being subjected to surveillance, verbal abuse, and threats during these visits, with authorities using the emotional vulnerability of loved ones to extract compliance or discourage activism. These strategies reflect a broader policy of systematic repression and psychological torment, aimed not only at silencing dissent but at dismantling the very social and emotional networks that sustain resistance. The Younesi Family: Ali Younesi, a 25-year-old computer engineering student and gold medalist, has been imprisoned since April 2020 with a 16-year sentence. His 70-year-old father, Miryousef Younesi, was arrested in January 2023, with both held in Evin Prison. The elderly father, suffering from diabetes and deafness, was allegedly denied medical care and went on hunger strike in May 2025.mAsal Meskin-Navaz: This 17-year-old was arrested in February 2023 while going to school, with her case transferred from juvenile court to Revolutionary Court. Her father, Mehdi Meskin-Navaz, remains a detained political activist.

Widespread Demonstrations and Civil Unrest

During President Pezeshkian’s visit to Ilam province on June 11, 2025, widespread youth-led demonstrations erupted, with protesters chanting slogans that openly rejected the government and its legitimacy, signaling the growing boldness and frustration among Iran’s younger generation. This unrest comes amid a broader climate of dissent marked by a surge in anti-government graffiti campaigns spreading across multiple cities—visual symbols of resistance that defy censorship and repression. Just a day prior, on June 10, activists marked the 72nd consecutive week of the “Tuesdays Against Executions” campaign, underscoring the persistence of organized civil resistance against the regime’s use of capital punishment as a tool of fear and control. On the same day, farmers in Shiraz rallied to protest the ongoing water rights crisis, a reflection of the deeper environmental mismanagement and agrarian distress that threaten the country’s food security. Meanwhile, in Kerman province, villagers protesting the severe environmental degradation caused by a chromium mine were met with violent suppression by security forces, highlighting the regime’s militarized response to grassroots ecological concerns. In Masal, the government’s demolition of market stalls robbed families of their primary livelihoods, sparking local unrest and further intensifying public anger toward the authorities’ disregard for economic survival. Collectively, these events paint a picture of a nation on edge, where diverse social, environmental, and economic grievances are converging into a nationwide wave of defiance. The NCRI reports coordinated prisoner strikes occurring across 47 prisons, indicating organized resistance even within the penal system. These strikes coincided with family demonstrations, suggesting coordination between imprisoned activists and their supporters.

Deteriorating Living Conditions

Rather than addressing systemic failures, the Iranian government has adopted what the NCRI describes as a blame-shifting strategy. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has: Blamed citizens for energy consumption, claiming “Iranians consume several times more gas and electricity than the global average” instead of modernizing infrastructure, Criticized food consumption patterns, with the Agriculture Minister stating “sugar and vegetable oil consumption in Iran is 1.5 times the global average” while ignoring water scarcity and soil erosion,Employed over 2,600 managers in the Ministry of Economy who allegedly contribute little to economic improvement while urging the public to practice “patience” and “frugality”.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Iran’s ongoing economic crisis, driven by mismanagement, international sanctions, and deep-rooted systemic corruption, has had a devastating impact on the country’s most vulnerable populations. Soaring prices of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, have made basic survival a daily struggle for millions, while chronic shortages of water and electricity further compound the hardship, especially in impoverished and rural areas. Unemployment and underemployment remain widespread, particularly among the youth and women, leaving families with little to no financial stability. Instead of receiving state support or relief, many citizens are blamed by the government for the very conditions they endure, often accused of sabotage or subversion when voicing grievances. These conditions have widened social and economic inequalities and deepened public distrust in state institutions. The absence of effective welfare policies and targeted assistance programs has left low-income families, pensioners, and marginalized ethnic and religious communities exposed to worsening poverty, deteriorating health, and lack of access to education and essential services, ultimately fueling social unrest and desperation.

Leadership of the Democratic Alternative

Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has emerged as a central figure in the organized opposition movement. At a November 2024 conference at the European Parliament, she presented the NCRI’s comprehensive roadmap for regime change and democratic transition.

The Ten-Point Plan

Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan has emerged as a widely endorsed framework for envisioning a democratic and peaceful future for Iran, gaining substantial international support from 125 former heads of state, over 4,000 parliamentarians worldwide, 80 Nobel laureates, and 34 legislative bodies across Europe and the Americas. At its core, the plan champions democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, advocating for free elections, the abolition of the death penalty, and the equality of all citizens regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion. A key pillar is the promotion of gender equality, with an emphasis on women’s participation in leadership roles. The plan also calls for ethnic autonomy and self-determination for minorities, religious freedom, and a clear separation of religion from the state, directly countering the current theocratic regime. In addition, it envisions a non-nuclear Iran committed to peaceful coexistence and regional stability in the Middle East, positioning the plan as not only a blueprint for internal reform but also a roadmap for contributing to broader regional peace and international security.

Organizational Structure

The NCRI, established 43 years ago, comprises 457 members from diverse political backgrounds, with women representing over 50% of its membership. The organization claims to be the longest-standing political coalition in Iran’s history and operates through:

• The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK): Described as having thousands of seasoned cadres with a 60-year history of resistance
• International Networks: 320 associations within Iranian communities abroad
• Financial Independence: Self-funded operations including daily activities, communications, publications, and 24-hour television broadcasting

Transition Strategy

Rajavi has outlined a specific democratic transition plan: Provisional Government (maximum 6 months) to organize elections for a Constituent Assembly, Constituent Assembly Formation, after which the provisional government steps down,Two-year Government appointed by the Assembly to draft, approve, and hold a referendum on a new constitution.

International Implications

The NCRI has also raised alarms about Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program, claiming intelligence about a covert project called the “Kavir Plan” that allegedly replaced the earlier “Amad Plan.” According to their reports, this program operates under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s direction and focuses on developing “boosted nuclear warheads” for long-range missiles.

Regional Stability

The ongoing internal crisis in Iran has broader implications for regional stability, particularly given Iran’s involvement in various Middle Eastern conflicts and its support for proxy groups across the region. The NCRI reports paint a picture of Iran as a nation caught between an increasingly repressive government and a determined resistance movement. The systematic use of executions, targeting of families, and blame-shifting tactics suggest a regime under significant pressure, while the persistence of protests and strikes indicates sustained popular opposition. Maryam Rajavi’s role as a unifying figure for the opposition, combined with the NCRI’s structured approach to democratic transition, represents an organized alternative to the current system. However, the ultimate resolution of Iran’s crisis will depend on numerous factors, including the regime’s capacity for continued repression, the opposition’s ability to maintain momentum, and the international community’s response to the ongoing human rights violations.

https://www.ncr-iran.org/en