NEW YORK CITY—Thousands rallied outside the United Nations on Wednesday, calling for international support for the resistance movement in Iran.
The protesters demanded that the U.N. condemn political executions happening in Iran under the current regime and asked the world to stop all support for the regime. They gathered while Iran’s president was delivering his address to the 81st U.N. General Assembly’s during its high-level week, Sept. 22-26.
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking from the podium, described Iran as a “victim of terrorism” as he held up photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and images of children killed in bomb attacks.
Across the street, Shokoh Nasab, who had traveled from Los Angeles to join the rally, denounced the regime.
“The United Nations is not the place for the dictators and the criminal regime. They are not representing the Iran people,” she told The Epoch Times.
Nasab said she was detained when she was 16 years old and nearly executed in 1981. Many fellow Iranians detained along with her were executed, and some were sentenced to prison for five or seven years, she said. She was fortunate to be released because of medical need and, once free, she immediately fled to the United States.
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“For us, war is not the answer. To attack Iran is not going to change the regime,” said Nasab. What is needed is “regime change by the people in Iran.” For that to happen, she said, the Iranian people need support from the entire world.
Shokoh Nasab attends a rally held by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 22, 2026. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
Also joining the rally was longtime national security adviser to President Donald Trump, Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, who spoke to the crowd, encouraging them to push ahead to establish a provisional government and commit to free elections.
Kellogg told The Epoch Times he sees so much attention on the Strait of Hormuz, but the linchpin is ensuring that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
“Why? Because you deal with a nuclear state significantly different than a non-nuclear state,” Kellogg said, adding that he thinks the issue of oil supplies coming through the strait will resolve itself because so many nations rely on the oil.
He said he supports efforts to establish a democracy in Iran.
Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States, speaks at a rally held by Iranian supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 22, 2026.Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times
That is also what the rally organizers, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, are calling for. Attendees held up signs saying “No Shah, No Mullahs” as speakers and musical performances rallied the crowd.
The council has positioned itself as a transitional government in exile, ready to step in to help establish a democracy in Iran once the theocratic rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran are removed. The organization backs freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and separation of church and state. It is headed by Maryam Rajavi, who has established a 10-point plan for transition.
“All [domestic activists] need from the outside world is recognizing their right to overthrow the regime,” Alireza Jafarzadeh told The Epoch Times.
Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the National Council of Resistance of Iran’s U.S. office, said the resistance in Iran doesn’t need money or arms from the outside world; it just needs more support [and for] nations of the world to defend the rights of the people of Iran to stand up for their freedom.
“The regime has been executing political prisoners who were involved in the protests. Where is the condemnation? Where is the outrage?”
