In the final days of February 2026, Iran entered a new phase of acute instability, raising grave concerns for the safety of civilians. The Iranian regime has repeatedly experienced periods of instability and unrest during the nearly five decades it has remained in power.
This escalation coincided with the confirmed death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, brings an end to 36 years of entrenched authoritarianism and brutality in his rule. The transition comes at a moment of acute instability, and its consequences for the peoples of Iran and the wider border region remain uncertain. Still, for Iran’s minorities, it opens a space -long overdue- for change: that this period could become the start of a new era grounded in rights, freedom, and justice for all peoples in Iran, and a step away from a deeply painful chapter for the region.
UNPO expresses grave concern for civilians. All stakeholders must comply with international law and take all necessary measures to protect civilians, including ensuring special protection for medical facilities and personnel.
UNPO also stresses that the current crisis is rooted in longstanding structural injustice. For decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has relied on systematic repression and discrimination, particularly targeting ethnic and national minorities. Kurds, Balochs, Ahwazi Arabs, South Azerbaijanis, and other oppressed peoples and groups in the country have faced recurring patterns of arbitrary detention, unfair trials, restrictions on political, cultural, and linguistic rights, securitized governance, and excessive use of force. The latest example was the massacre of thousands of women, men, and children over the course of two nights, on January 8 and 9 of this year. These people sought only to live with dignity and freedom. Any attempt to restore “stability” through renewed repression, especially under the cover of conflict, will only deepen fragility.
Preparing for the immediate future requires more than managing a security crisis. It demands laying the groundwork for a genuine transition that addresses decades of human rights violations and exclusion. UNPO calls for a credible transitional justice process centered on truth, accountability for serious violations, reparations for victims, and guarantees of non-recurrence, while upholding due process and avoiding collective punishment.
UNPO and its members further urge the broader spectrum of Iran’s peoples to strengthen practical cooperation at this decisive moment. A broad, inclusive coalition, built on mutual recognition, non-violence, and equal partnership, can help ensure that no community is isolated, scapegoated, or traded away in political bargaining.
UNPO reaffirms the right of all peoples to self-determination and meaningful participation in shaping Iran’s future. Sustainable peace depends on a shared framework that protects pluralism, minority rights, women’s rights, and equal citizenship respectful of diverse identities, while enabling credible pathways for self-government consistent with international law.
Finally, UNPO expresses solidarity with its members, affected communities, and all families facing loss, fear, and displacement. UNPO will continue monitoring developments closely and remains committed to supporting unrepresented peoples in their pursuit of rights, security, and dignity.
