Bloomberg Talks President of Near East Policy Research & Member Ali Safavi Talks Iran, Power Transition
Mar 3, 2026
Ali Safavi, president of Near East Policy Research and National Council of Resistance of Iran member, gives a short bio as a longtime Iranian opposition figure. He discusses the possibility of regime change, the roots of mass resistance, why protests must be homegrown, fragmentation after leadership strikes, and the role of international policy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Regime Change Is Plausible After Decades Of Repression
- Regime change in Iran is possible because decades of suppression and repeated nationwide protests have weakened the government.
- Ali Safavi cites 47 years of repression, mass executions, and repeated uprisings (2017, 2019, 2022, Jan) as evidence the populace is determined to overthrow the regime.
Do Prioritize Indigenous Organized Resistance
- Change must come from inside Iran and be organized, not from foreign military intervention.
- Safavi explicitly says the resistance is indigenous and structured, warning against expecting external forces to produce sustainable change.
Expect Methodical Mobilization Not Spontaneous Riots
- Iranians will not spontaneously mass-protest while bombs fall; they will act methodically once the immediate danger subsides.
- Safavi notes current caution due to airstrikes and stresses organized, methodic mobilization after conflict eases.