Iran stands at a defining moment.

Events are moving fast.
The conflict has escalated further.
The Iranian regime is under unprecedented pressure.

But let us be clear about one thing.

This moment was not created overnight.

It is the result of years of repression.
Voices silenced.
Women targeted.
Students imprisoned.
A regime that turned against its own people.

For years the Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage.
Students.
Women.
Workers.
Entire communities across the country standing up for dignity, freedom and a better future.

Many around the world are now debating the military operation unfolding in the region.

Europe does not decide the future of Iran. And opinions may differ on the operation itself. But one truth remains clear: the deeper roots of this crisis lie in decades of repression by the regime.

Yet Iran is far greater than its rulers.

Iran is one of the world’s oldest civilisations. A country of immense culture, talent and creativity. A nation shaped by many peoples, traditions and cultures that together form the richness of Iran.

Persians.
Kurds.
Azeris.
Baluchis.
Arabs.

Different identities. Different experiences. But one shared stake in the future.

And that future will not ultimately be decided by foreign powers or by missiles.

It will be decided by the Iranian people.

This is why the present moment carries enormous significance.

The time for change is now.

This is a generational opportunity. A moment where pressure from outside meets courage from within.

But history also teaches us something important.

Oppression does not happen overnight.
And neither does freedom.

We have seen promises made before.
Rights pledged.
Hope offered.

And then taken away.

We have seen what happens when words are not matched by action. When women are promised dignity only to face deeper repression. When power changes hands but not values.

And we have also seen what happens when moments like this are lost to fragmentation and instability.

This is why what comes next matters just as much as what is happening now.

Change must be shaped.
Not left to chaos.
Not driven by revenge.

Because Iran is a country of depth, history and diversity. And the strength of that diversity must become the foundation of the future.

This is the greatest challenge now.

Not only confronting the regime.

But building unity.

Unity across communities.
Unity across generations.
Unity across everyone who believes in a free, democratic and inclusive Iran.

Unity does not mean uniformity.

It means recognising that every community belongs.
Equally. Fully. Without conditions.

Because without that, there can be no lasting stability. Only a different cycle of division.

Iran has known what it means to be a beacon.

Before 1979 it was a centre of culture, creativity and openness in the region. That spirit still exists. And it can guide what comes next.

Iran has everything it needs to flourish again.

A rich civilisation.
A dynamic society.
An educated and creative population.

But building a new future requires more than ending repression.

It requires values.

Inclusion.
Respect.
Dignity.
Freedom.

Not exclusion.
Not fragmentation.
Not one group replacing another.

It is not Europe’s role to dictate who should lead Iran. That choice belongs to the Iranian people.

But it is our responsibility to stand with those who seek freedom, dignity and a peaceful future for their country.

This is a rare moment in history.

But the outcome is not guaranteed.

It will depend on whether this opportunity is seized with clarity, responsibility and unity.

The message therefore is simple.

Stand together.
Stay anchored in values.
Seize this moment.

Because the future of Iran must ultimately be shaped by its people.