In a desperate act of state-sanctioned murder, the Iranian regime executed political prisoners and PMOI members Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani on July 27, 2025. This heinous crime was a calculated move by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to intimidate a restless population and silence the organized opposition.
But this strategy of terror has failed. Instead of crushing the will of the people, the executions have ignited a new fire of defiance across Iran. Within days, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) Resistance Units mobilized, proving that the regime’s gallows cannot extinguish the flame of resistance. Their swift and courageous actions, which have continued throughout the week, demonstrate that for every hero the regime murders, many more rise to continue their path toward a free Iran.
"Behrouz Ehsani said: I will not bargain over my life with anyone and am ready to sacrifice my humble life for the path of the Iranian people's liberation." pic.twitter.com/qSJM4nS9rt
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 2, 2025
The resistance endures: PMOI units vow to continue the fight
On August 1, in the latest series of anti-regime activities following the executions, Resistance Units in cities like Zahedan took to the streets to honor the fallen heroes and send a clear message to the ruling dictatorship. They displayed banners and placards carrying powerful vows of perseverance, turning the regime’s attempt at intimidation into a platform for resistance.
Their messages underscored a deep understanding of the regime’s motives and an unwavering commitment to its overthrow. “Khamenei has resorted to widespread arrests and executions to escape the explosion of public rage,” one banner read, while another declared, “The response to the murder and execution of political prisoners is the uprising of the Resistance Units.”
"We are stronger than death and executions and massacres. Every time they kill us, we rise again." pic.twitter.com/72rHgK6lT7
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 2, 2025
These brave activists pledged to carry the torch of their martyred comrades. “We will continue the path of the martyred PMOI members until Iran’s freedom and the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime,” they proclaimed, affirming their resolve with the powerful statement: “We are stronger than death and executions and massacres. Every time they kill us, we rise again.”
A clear vision for the future: rejecting all forms of dictatorship
The Resistance Units’ activities also highlighted a crucial aspect of the Iranian people’s struggle: the rejection of all forms of dictatorship. Alongside their condemnation of the mullahs, they exposed the remnants of the Shah’s regime who seek to hijack the people’s movement with a return to a bygone tyranny.
Their slogans echoed a popular sentiment growing across Iran: “Death to the oppressor — be it the Shah or the mullahs.”
This position is encapsulated in the “Third Option,” a framework championed by NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi. The Resistance Units promoted this vision, which rejects both the failed policy of appeasement toward the mullahs and a foreign war. Instead, it asserts that lasting change will come from within, led by the Iranian people and their organized Resistance. As one placard stated, “The Third Option for freedom draws the line against the mullahs and the shah regimes.” This demonstrates a clear and democratic vision for a future republic, free from any form of dictatorial rule, whether with a turban or a crown.
"The Third Option for freedom (no to appeasement, no to war, yes to regime change by the people and their organized Resistance) draws the line against the mullahs and the shah regimes" pic.twitter.com/XwhvkddX9I
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 2, 2025
A desperate regime
The murders of Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, were not a sign of the regime’s strength, but of its profound weakness. Arrested in 2022, both men endured severe torture and a sham judicial process overseen by the notorious judge Iman Afshari. Their “crimes” were “baghi” (armed rebellion) and, most tellingly, “membership in the Mojahedin (PMOI).”
Despite this, their spirits remained unbroken. In a final, defiant message, Behrouz Ehsani declared, “I will not bargain with anyone over my life and am ready to sacrifice my life for the cause of the liberation of the Iranian people.”
These executions are part of a wider, brutal campaign under President Masoud Pezeshkian. Since he took office in July 2024, the regime has executed over 1,400 people in a desperate bid to crush dissent and stave off another uprising. By murdering its bravest citizens, the regime reveals its terror of its own people. But as the defiant activities of the Resistance Units show, these crimes only fuel the public’s anger and strengthen their resolve to achieve a free, democratic, and republican Iran.