Iran Volcano Ready to Erupt-NCRI Spokesperson Declares
Article: Interview with Shahin Gobadi, NCRI Spokesperson and Nuclear Scientist, on the Mass Uprising in Iran
Erika Grey: Shahin, what is happening in Iran is unbelievable. The protests and now we see the government actually doing what we would never expect, wanting to have discussions with the people, becoming consolatory. Can you please comment and let us know the status of the resistance on the ground right now in Iran?
Shahin Gobadi: Madame Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stated yesterday that what we are witnessing in Iran is the frustration of tens of millions of Iranians who simply have been devastated. They have had it because of the unprecedented devaluation of the Iranian currency, rampant inflation, systematic discrimination, and corruption by regime officials. Daily life is deteriorating.
That is why we see people in the streets despite all the risks. Today, December 1st, marks the fourth day of the protests. It began in the central Tehran Bazaar, which is the backbone of the economy. Then it spread to university strikes and smaller towns across the country. In just a few hours, it became political with slogans like "Death to the dictator" and "Khamenei will be overthrown." This shows people realize the root cause of their problems and that the way forward is regime change by the people themselves.
Erika Grey: Would you say that this could possibly be the catalyst for that regime change? And what about your group that's on the ground in Iran?
Shahin Gobadi: It vividly shows the desire of the Iranian people for regime change. People from all walks of life—shopkeepers, merchants, and students—are in the streets. Resistance units are very active. Interestingly, from the very first hours, the regime’s state media, like Fars, pointed to the tweets of Madame Rajavi and the role of the resistance affiliated with the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). They admit that while protests may start with 200 people, organized elements quickly take the lead to make them political. This is exactly the role the resistance units have been playing.
Erika Grey: The Iranian media is playing it down, but would you say the mullahs now are scared?
Shahin Gobadi: Yes. There was talk within the regime for weeks that an uprising was inevitable, and now it is a reality. Tehran, a city of 10 million, is engulfed. The regime has even started shooting at protesters in smaller towns. Iran is a volcano ready to erupt. The value of the currency is at an all-time low, and inflation for basic staples is as high as 60 to 70% annually. With power outages and fuel prices tripling, the people have had it. Appeasement is not a policy; foreign war is not a solution. The solution is regime change by the Iranian people.
Erika Grey: As a nuclear scientist, you played a major role in bringing Iran's nuclear ambitions to the U.S. government. Can you comment on President Trump's statement that Iran is building again in another secret location?
Shahin Gobadi: While I am not privy to specific information I can share, the bigger picture is that the regime has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons program or ballistic missile proliferation. Khamenei knows that if he steps back from these strategic pillars, the system will unravel faster. He is caught between a rock and a hard place with no way forward or backward.
Erika Grey: Finally, on sanctions—which have been the most effective? The media often reports the economy is tanking because of them.
Shahin Gobadi: The oil and gas embargo is the most imposing because it is the lifeline for the regime's repressive forces and proxies. However, it is a myth that sanctions are the main cause. Misguided policies and massive corruption are the reasons. The Iranian people chant, "The enemy is here; they lie to us that it's America." They know that during the nuclear agreement, the windfall of funds never reached them; it was funneled into the IRGC and terror proxies.
The people want a secular democratic republic.
Erika Grey: Thank you for joining us today, Shahin.
Shahin Gobadi: Thanks for having me. I wish your viewers a prosperous new year and hope for a new chapter in world history.