On August 14, 2026, PMOI/MEK Resistance Units resumed their weekly anti-regime activities in Zahedan, southeast Iran, displaying messages of resistance in public places. The activists categorically rejected all forms of dictatorship, including the tyranny of both the mullahs and the ousted Shah.
Holding placards that read, “Iran will neither submit to the ruling theocracy nor return to a monarchical dictatorship. Iran’s only forward path is the path of true freedom,” they showcased the Iranian people’s steadfast demand for liberty. These brave activities come as the regime sits atop a powder keg of public anger and discontent following the January uprising, dealing with deep, irresolvable conflicts within the ruling establishment that leave it increasingly fragile by the day.
“A dictator is a dictator”: Rejecting the shadows of the past
A central theme of the Resistance Units’ messaging in Zahedan was a definitive rejection of a return to the ousted monarchy. The activists held signs stating, “A dictator is a dictator, whether with a turban or a crown,” and “No to shah, no to mullahs. The people of Iran demand a democratic republic.”
August 14—Zahedan, southeast Iran
PMOI/MEK Resistance Units resume weekly anti-regime activities, displaying messages of resistance against the regime and rejecting all forms of dictatorship, including the tyranny of the mullahs' and shah's tyrannical rule. pic.twitter.com/3DTPYEspTm— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2026
They also directed their messages at the son of the ousted Shah, who has been taking advantage of the situation in Iran to push claims that Iranians want a return to the past. One placard read, “Anyone who believes they can fashion a monarchical crown from the blood and atrocities of the ruling mullahs is dead wrong.”
Reminding the public of the historical context, the activists noted, “The 57-year dictatorship of Reza Shah and his son was founded through coups and foreign power intervention,” and emphasized that for 120 years, Iran’s freedom fighters have continuously fought, resisted, and stood firm.
These grassroots activities highlight that the current campaigns by the Shah’s son are opportunistic fabrications that run contrary to the genuine aspirations of the Iranian people.
The regime’s existential crisis: Why peace is a noose
The activists in Zahedan also demonstrated a profound understanding of the Iranian regime’s fundamental vulnerabilities and its reliance on regional chaos. They held signs reading, “Peace is the noose around the regime’s neck, and if forced to choose, it would prefer war a hundred times over peace,” and warned that “As long as this regime exists, the region will not see peace and tranquility.”
This messaging underscores the regime’s calculated political survival strategy. As Abbas Araqchi, the regime’s foreign minister, recently admitted, “If we take a single step back, there is no telling how far we will be forced to retreat.”
"The sole way to establish freedom and democracy in Iran is this democratic alternative [NCRI] and the National Liberation Army." pic.twitter.com/uc0GzQ7qTd
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2026
The remnants of the regime know that any retreat from war, terrorism, or domestic suppression would swiftly lead to their overthrow. This desperate need to maintain power through brutal suppression is reflected in the nearly one thousand executions carried out since the beginning of 2026, targeting political prisoners, PMOI members, and protesters detained during the January uprising.
Championing the “Third Option”
In contrast to the false binary of religious tyranny and monarchical dependency, the Resistance Units proudly championed the “Third Option,” which they described as “opening the way toward Iran’s true freedom and independence.”
They publicly identified the organized resistance as the solution, stating, “The sole way to establish freedom and democracy in Iran is this democratic alternative [NCRI] and the National Liberation Army.”
"With these executions, the regime only hardens the resolve of the rebellious youth to overthrow this murderous regime" pic.twitter.com/vkapsB11Rd
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 15, 2026
This Third Option rejects both appeasement and war and relies on the Iranian people themselves and their organized resistance to bring about the long-sought change in Iran. The Resistance Units and their activities are the manifestation of the potential of this Third Option.
The unwavering dedication of the activists in Zahedan proves that a new, young generation is prepared to confront the regime’s repressive forces. As one placard declared, “Through self-sacrifice and absolute dedication, the wall of tyranny and oppression can and will be broken.”
The synergy between these organized Resistance Units and widespread popular uprisings is the true force for change in Iran.