Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg spoke at a gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris, stating that the Iranian regime is weaker than in previous decades and encouraging dissidents to act on what he described as a historic opportunity for regime change. Kellogg emphasized that the current Iranian leadership would not leave voluntarily and urged for decisive action. He characterized any disarmament agreement as a preliminary step toward a broader goal of establishing a future for Iran without the current regime.
Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s president-elect, argued that neither military action nor negotiations had effectively addressed the threats posed by the Iranian government, advocating for the overthrow of the regime by the Iranian people. Kellogg also highlighted the importance of verification in any agreements regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, referencing the NCRI's past disclosures of nuclear sites.
The NCRI had anticipated a large turnout of Iranian expatriates for the event, but French authorities banned a planned outdoor rally due to security concerns, citing intelligence about potential violence. Despite the ban, some demonstrators gathered, leading to police intervention and arrests.
Ali Safavi from the NCRI criticized the French government's decision, calling it an unjust capitulation. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also condemned the ban, asserting that Western nations should support Iranian opposition voices. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba linked the struggles of Ukraine and Iran, expressing solidarity with the Iranian opposition and criticizing the Iranian regime's support for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. The French government has not yet commented on the situation.