As Iran commemorates the 44th anniversary of the June 20, 1981, uprising—a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle for freedom—the defiant spirit of that day is being rekindled on the streets of its cities. In a series of coordinated anti-regime activities in June 2025, the Resistance Units affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) have demonstrated that the flame of resistance burns brighter than ever.
On June 18, just ahead of the anniversary, these units plastered walls in major cities including Tehran, Mashhad, Qazvin, Zanjan, Yazd, Ardabil, Bandar Abbas, Semnan, and Farsan with powerful slogans and images. These acts serve as a bold declaration that the four-decade-long struggle against the clerical regime continues with unwavering resolve, sending a clear message that the resistance is organized, widespread, and active.
The turning point that defined the struggle
To understand the significance of these modern-day acts of defiance, one must look back to June 20, 1981. On that day, the PMOI organized a peaceful demonstration of over half a million people in Tehran. It was a last-ditch effort to call on the new regime of Ruhollah Khomeini to respect the basic freedoms for which the Iranian people had fought.
Khomeini’s response was swift and merciless. He ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to open fire on the unarmed protesters. This brutal crackdown marked a definitive turning point. It became undeniably clear that the clerical regime was irreformable and that its nature was fundamentally tyrannical. The massacre ended any hope of peaceful political change and gave birth to an all-out, organized resistance dedicated to overthrowing the regime to establish a free and democratic Iran.
A message written on the walls of Iran’s cities
The slogans that appeared on city walls in 2025 are a direct echo of the principles established in 1981. The Resistance Units declared their actions part of “The most glorious resistance in Iran’s history against reaction and dictatorship,” explicitly linking their current struggle to the legacy of the past four decades.
Another powerful slogan, “On June 20, we preserved the honor of resistance,” reinforces a core tenet of the PMOI: a steadfast refusal to compromise with the brutal theocracy. This message highlights a history of sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom, standing in stark contrast to any notion of appeasement.
From a defining moment to a democratic future
The activities of the Resistance Units prove that the sacrifice of June 20, 1981, and the tens of thousands of martyrs that followed, laid the foundation for a resilient and organized movement. This is not a scattered protest but a structured resistance with a clear vision for Iran’s future.
That vision is articulated in another of their core slogans: “The key to national salvation is death to the mullahs’ rule and long live the army of freedom.” This is an unambiguous call for regime change and the establishment of a democratic republic. The defiant acts in Iran’s cities are a testament to the fact that the struggle that began on the blood-soaked streets of Tehran in 1981 continues unabated, paving the way for a free Iran.