National Council of Resistance of Iran
An Iranian opposition coalition commonly described as the political or diplomatic wing of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is an Iranian opposition coalition founded in exile in 1981 by Massoud Rajavi and Abolhassan Banisadr. It presents itself as an independent parliament-in-exile and as a prospective alternative government for Iran, while academics, governments and journalists have often characterized it as the political, diplomatic or international-facing wing of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK). The council advocates the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and the establishment of a secular, pluralist and non-nuclear political system. Maryam Rajavi has served as its president-elect since 1993 and is its most prominent public representative. The organization emerged after Banisadr, Iran's first post-revolutionary president, was impeached in June 1981 and fled Iran with Rajavi. The founders established the council in Paris with several Iranian opposition groups, including the National Democratic Front, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and elements of the Minority Fedaian. The alliance subsequently became increasingly dominated by the MEK. In 1983 Banisadr formally left the council, and in 1986 French authorities closed its Paris headquarters during an effort to improve relations with the Iranian government. The NCRI then moved much of its operational base to Baghdad, where it remained linked to the MEK's activities during the Iran-Iraq War period. The NCRI's stated political program calls for universal suffrage, freedom of expression and assembly, equal rights for women, the separation of religion and state, abolition of the death penalty, judicial modernization, protection of private property and employment, a market economy, minority and regional rights, peaceful coexistence with other states, and rejection of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Its program has been promoted through political lobbying, public rallies, publications, media outlets and advocacy before national legislatures, the European Parliament, the United Nations and human-rights organizations. One of the council's most consequential public interventions came in 2002, when it disclosed the existence of previously undeclared nuclear facilities at Natanz and Arak. The revelations contributed to international scrutiny of Iran's nuclear activities and intensified concern about compliance with non-proliferation obligations. The NCRI also claims a longstanding role in documenting human-rights violations in Iran and transmitting information to international institutions and advocacy organizations. The council and the MEK have faced sustained controversy over their organizational relationship, internal structure, historical alliance with Iraq, and political methods. The United States designated the MEK and treated the NCRI as part of that organization for terrorism-list purposes in 1997; the United States removed the MEK from its Foreign Terrorist Organization list in 2012. The European Union removed the MEK from its terrorism list in 2009 while treating the NCRI separately in its listings. Critics have argued that the NCRI functions as a front or diplomatic vehicle for the MEK, while supporters regard it as a broad opposition coalition and a government-in-waiting. The NCRI has maintained a visible international campaign involving former officials, legislators and public figures in the United States and Europe. It has also been the target of alleged Iranian state operations. In 2018, Belgian authorities arrested an Iranian diplomat and associates over an alleged plan to bomb an NCRI-linked rally near Paris; an Antwerp court convicted the defendants in 2021. The organization continues to campaign against the Islamic Republic and to promote Maryam Rajavi's proposed transition framework, including a ten-point plan for a future democratic Iran.
History
The NCRI was created in Paris in 1981 after Abolhassan Banisadr's conflict with clerical hardliners and his removal from Iran's presidency. Banisadr and Massoud Rajavi left Iran in June 1981 and formed a coalition intended to unite opposition forces against the Islamic Republic. Its early participants included the MEK, the National Democratic Front, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and elements of the Minority Fedaian. The coalition gave Rajavi a prominent leadership role within the exiled opposition and developed plans for a replacement government. In January 1983, Rajavi and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz signed a peace initiative recognizing the Iran-Iraq border under the 1975 Algiers Agreement. The initiative was presented as an early diplomatic act by the council. The alliance weakened as non-MEK factions departed, in part because of disagreements over the MEK's growing dominance and its relationship with Iraq. Banisadr formally left the NCRI in March 1983. In 1986 France closed the council's Paris headquarters in the context of efforts to improve relations with Tehran, prompting the NCRI and Rajavi to relocate major operations to Baghdad. Maryam Rajavi became the NCRI's president-elect in 1993. The same year, NCRI representative Mohammad Hossein Naghdi was assassinated in Italy; the European Parliament condemned the killing as part of a pattern of political violence attributed to the Iranian state. During the following decades, the council developed an international advocacy structure focused on human-rights reporting, political lobbying, media communication and the presentation of a proposed transition program for Iran. In August 2002 the NCRI announced information about previously undisclosed nuclear sites at Natanz and Arak. The disclosure helped trigger wider international investigation and concern regarding Iran's nuclear program. The organization subsequently continued to publish allegations about Iranian military, nuclear and security activities, although its reliability and relationship with the MEK have been contested by commentators and governments. The NCRI and MEK were designated or treated as terrorist organizations by several governments or institutions at different times. The United States listed the MEK in 1997 and regarded the NCRI as an integral part of it. The European Union removed the MEK from its terrorism list in 2009 after prolonged litigation, and the United States did so in 2012. These changes did not eliminate debate about the council's organizational independence, methods or record. Maryam Rajavi presented a ten-point plan for Iran's future in 2006. Its themes included universal suffrage, gender equality, separation of religion and state, abolition of the death penalty, judicial independence, human-rights guarantees, a market economy and a non-nuclear foreign policy. The NCRI has promoted this program at European and American political events and through international supporters. In June 2018, Belgian authorities arrested an Iranian diplomat accredited in Austria and several alleged accomplices in connection with a planned bombing of an NCRI-linked gathering near Paris. In February 2021, an Antwerp court convicted the defendants and imposed prison sentences, including a 20-year sentence for Assadollah Assadi. The case became a central element of the NCRI's claims that Iranian state institutions target its international activities. The organization remains active in France and Albania and continues to campaign for regime change in Iran. It has supported protests against the Islamic Republic, publicized alleged human-rights violations and nuclear or security information, and sought parliamentary and governmental support in Europe and North America. Its current public identity is closely associated with Maryam Rajavi, while its status as an autonomous coalition or an MEK political vehicle remains a subject of dispute.
- 2021
Convictions over alleged rally bombing plot
[1]A Belgian court convicted four defendants in connection with an alleged plan to attack an NCRI-linked gathering near Paris.
- 2012
United States removes MEK designation
[1]The U.S. State Department removed the MEK from its Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
- 2009
EU removes MEK from terrorism list
[1]The European Union removed the MEK after a long legal and political challenge; the NCRI had generally been treated separately in EU listings.
- 2002
Nuclear disclosures
[1]The NCRI disclosed information about nuclear facilities at Natanz and Arak, prompting heightened international attention.
- 1993
Maryam Rajavi becomes president-elect
[1]Maryam Rajavi assumed the council's president-elect position and became its principal international representative.
- 1986
Operations move from France to Iraq
[1]France closed the NCRI's Paris headquarters during an effort to improve relations with Iran, and major operations moved to Baghdad.
- 1983
Banisadr leaves the council
[1]Banisadr formally departed after disagreements within the increasingly MEK-dominated alliance.
- 1981
NCRI founded in Paris
[1]Massoud Rajavi and Abolhassan Banisadr established the opposition coalition in exile with several Iranian dissident groups.
Products and positioning
The NCRI positions itself as a democratic Iranian opposition coalition and parliament-in-exile seeking to replace the Islamic Republic. External observers frequently identify it as the MEK's political and diplomatic arm.
Controversies
2018
Alleged plot against NCRI-linked rally
Belgian authorities arrested an Iranian diplomat and three alleged associates over an alleged plan to bomb a large NCRI-linked gathering near Paris. The defendants were later convicted by an Antwerp court.
2003
French investigation into NCRI and MEK-linked individuals
French police detained or investigated numerous sympathizers, including Maryam Rajavi, in a case involving allegations connected to the organization's activities. French courts dropped the charges after an 11-year investigation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020U.S. congressional support campaign
United States
NCRI supporters sought congressional backing for a resolution endorsing a secular, democratic and non-nuclear future for Iran and condemning alleged Iranian state-sponsored terrorism.
Outcome. The resolution received support from 221 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- 2006Ten Point Plan for Future Iran
Europe · United States · Iran
Maryam Rajavi promoted a political platform centered on universal suffrage, gender equality, separation of religion and state, abolition of the death penalty, judicial independence, human rights and rejection of nuclear weapons.
Outcome. The plan became the central policy document used in the NCRI's international lobbying and public events.
- 2002Iran nuclear disclosure campaign
International · United States · European Union
The NCRI publicized information about undeclared nuclear facilities at Natanz and Arak and used the disclosure to press governments and international institutions to investigate Iran's nuclear activities.
Outcome. The revelations contributed to heightened international concern and scrutiny of Iran's compliance with non-proliferation obligations.
Brand decisions
2012
U.S. terrorism-list delisting of the MEKOtherBackground
The MEK had been listed by the United States since 1997, with U.S. authorities treating the NCRI as part of that organization.
Action taken
The U.S. State Department removed the MEK from the Foreign Terrorist Organization list.
Aftermath
The decision improved the movement's ability to conduct overt international advocacy but did not end debate over the NCRI's independence from the MEK.
2002
Publication of nuclear intelligenceOtherBackground
The NCRI said Iran had concealed nuclear facilities from international monitoring.
Action taken
It disclosed information about facilities at Natanz and Arak to the international press and governments.
Aftermath
The disclosure helped increase international pressure and investigation of Iran's nuclear program.
1986
Relocation of major operations to BaghdadStrategyBackground
France closed the NCRI's Paris headquarters while seeking improved relations with the Iranian government.
Action taken
The council and Massoud Rajavi moved major operational activity to Baghdad.
Aftermath
The move deepened the organization's association with the MEK's relationship with Iraq and became a continuing point of criticism.
Sources2 sources
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