On July 21, 2025, Iranians marked the 73rd anniversary of the historic 1952 national uprising, a day etched in the nation’s memory as a triumph of popular will against dictatorship. On that day, known in the Persian calendar as 30 Tir, the people of Iran poured into the streets with the defining chant, “Either Death or Mossadegh,” forcing the Shah to reinstate the democratically elected and independent Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh.
The 30 Tir uprising was a powerful stand against both the Shah’s monarchic tyranny and the foreign exploitation of Iran’s national wealth. It symbolized a nation’s demand for a government that served its people. Today, that same spirit of defiance is being channeled by PMOI Resistance Units across Iran, who have launched a widespread campaign to honor Mossadegh’s legacy and draw a direct line between his struggle for independence and their current fight against the ruling clerical regime.
The modern resistance revives Mossadegh’s anti-dictatorial spirit
In a coordinated effort demonstrating their organizational strength, PMOI Resistance Units carried out over activities in major cities including Tehran, Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Ahvaz. These brave activists took to the streets to install placards, distribute leaflets, and paint graffiti honoring Dr. Mossadegh, lighting up the walls of cities under the grip of repression with his memory.
Their activities serve as a powerful reminder of Mossadegh’s own prophetic words, which were featured in their campaign: “Whether I am alive or not, I will be certain that this flame will not be extinguished.” By echoing slogans such as “Mossadegh’s leadership is a model for generations,” the Resistance Units are reaffirming that the fight for a free and independent Iran, which Mossadegh championed, continues with unwavering determination against the current tyranny of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
A decisive break with both monarchic and theocratic tyranny
Crucially, this year’s commemoration is anchored in the resistance movement’s core principle of “Neither the Shah, nor the mullahs,” rejecting all forms of dictatorship, past and present. On Friday, July 18, Resistance Units in Zahedan held placards that sent an unmistakable message: “From Zahedan to Tehran, death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs” and “A curse of the people and history on the bloodthirsty Shah and mullahs.”
This principle was articulated in a message by the Resistance Units, stenciled on the wall of a library in Najafabad: “To be a follower of Mossadegh is to avoid compromise with the Shah and the Sheikh.” The message is clear: the only path forward for Iran is one that breaks completely with the legacy of both monarchic and religious fascism.
The NCRI as the true inheritor of Mossadegh’s national movement
The Resistance Units made it clear that the modern embodiment of Mossadegh’s struggle is the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Placards across the country declared, “The continuation of Mossadegh’s path is embodied today in the National Council of Resistance of Iran.” Another powerful message highlighted that “The main sin of the Iranian Resistance is its guardianship of Mossadegh’s legacy,” turning a regime accusation into a badge of honor.
The Resistance Units also honored Mossadegh’s legacy of independence by supporting the “Third Option” introduced by the Iranian Resistance, a solution that rejects both appeasement of the regime and resorting to foreign wars. It stresses that regime change will come from within Iran, by the people and their organized Resistance.
This connection was further emphasized by a message displayed in Tehran: “The Iranian Resistance has kept Mossadegh’s flag raised as a symbol of freedom-seeking against dictatorship.” While the ruling regime has betrayed every principle of national sovereignty Mossadegh fought for, the resistance proudly carries his torch, fighting for the democratic and secular republic that remains the unrealized dream of the Iranian people.