Open Letter of Iranian activists to Joseph R. Biden President of the United States of America

Dear President Biden:

We extend our congratulations on your election as the 46^th President of the United States of America. Best wishes for the success of your Administration.

We, the signatories of the Coalition of Committed for a Secular Democratic Constitution in Iran, would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention the vital necessity of the alignment of people of Iran’s interest in their relationship with the United States in particular, people of Greater Middle East and the international community at large.

Since 2015, the aspirations of the Iranian people for a Secular and Democratic Constitution have appreciated, significantly. Following the JCPOA agreement, when Iran received substantial financial benefits, the Islamic Republic lost a major opportunity to implement meaningful welfare reforms for its people, to stop its malign behavior, and pursue a policy of harmony and peaceful coexistence with the regional countries. Instead, the regime spent billions of dollars gained from the Iran nuclear deal on exporting its totalitarian ideology by providing funds to terrorist networks, developing missile technology as offensive leverage to dominate the Persian Gulf and beyond, and causing chaos in the Middle East.

As you may know, Iranian people for a long time have been expressing their discontentment with Islamic Republic Government and their determination for a fundamental change. The nationwide protests in the Winter of 2017-2018 and in November 2019 are the latest affirmation of the Iranians resolve in establishing a democratic rule of law. The regime’s brutal security forces confronted the non-violent protestors, silenced their voices, killed more than 1500 Iranians, and arrested more than ten thousand innocent people.

In June 2019, the Declaration of 14+14 was drafted and signed in Iran. The signatories represent a sample of the cross-section of Iranians. The Declaration has the support of millions of Iranians demanding the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (under the Islamic Republic Theocratic Constitution) and the elimination of the Islamic Republic Constitution in favor of a non-violent transition to a Secular Democratic Constitution through an organized referendum under the supervision of the United Nations and other appropriate international organizations.

Today, despite the regime’s brutal confrontation against protesters and the lack of proper medical planning against the COVID-19 crisis, Iranians continue their protests and strikes against the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nationwide. The theocracy in Iran has lost its legitimacy with its people. In March 2020, the absolute majority of people in Iran demonstrated the lack of legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by boycotting the parliamentary elections.

The events in Iran in conjunction with the signing of the Abraham Accords signals a significant geopolitical shift in the Middle East. Indeed, the Islamic Republic is experiencing a decline in its influence in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and throughout the Greater Middle East. As a result of this momentous reality, the Islamic Republic Theocracy is on the verge of collapse.

Mr. President, we firmly believe that the new political reality in Iran and the Middle East has provided the Iranian people with a historic opportunity to achieve a peaceful transition to secular democracy. Therefore, we respectfully request your Administration to take the following factors under advisement in your Iran policy:

With kindest regards,

Signatories from Iran: