Iranian Resistence between Opression and War:

Simon Duempelmann & Yes Sanaie

An Interview with Sahar Sanaie, NCRI

Timeframe: 28/02/2026 – 07/05/2026

Iran · Human Rights Promotion · Issue I

Key Insights

• 1. Sanaie links her family’s persecution to support for the NCRI and its vision of a secular democratic Iran.
• 2. She says protests are driven by repression, economic crisis, and violent state crackdowns.
• 3. Sanaie rejects foreign intervention and monarchy restoration, arguing only organized internal resistance can bring change.

Definition

NCRI (National Council of Resistance of Iran): A coalition of Iranian opposition groups advocating a secular, democratic republic and opposing both clerical rule and monarchy.

Iranian activist Sahar Sanaie describes a country trapped between regime repression and regional war, arguing that only organized internal resistance can bring democratic change and freedom to Iran.

Documents: 📂 Source Document