Strategic Plan

Table of Contents

city skyline during sunset with city skyline

Vision

The vision of Prosperity for Iran (PFI) is to establish a government based on the two fundamental principles of rationality and morality. A government in which the law governs people’s lives and protects their fundamental rights. A system where the residents of Iran can flourish further in a sustainable ecosystem; where virtuous intellectuals are valued and take the lead, and where the worth of each individual is determined by their effort, creativity, and morality. A government that does not belong to any particular ethnic group, race, religion, or sect, and treats equally all those living within the geographical borders of the country, regardless of how they identify themselves, while guaranteeing their fundamental rights. A government that sees the flourishing of its citizens as contingent upon a healthy environment and its protection.

Our desired government is one where the majority vote is conditional upon respecting the fundamental rights of every single person in Iran. The proposed fundamental rights are:

The right to benefit from an ethical environment The right to self-determination The right to equality and fraternity The right to live under the rule of law The right to freedom of expression The right to physical security and peace The right to a non-violent and non-hateful society

For the details of the Government for Iran group’s vision, please refer to the “A Dream’s Roadmap” document.

Goals and Mission

PFI’s goal is to reach free and fair elections to determine the type and structure of the government. In these elections, any individual or group that has gained a certain level of support from the people can put their desired vision of the governing system and constitution to a vote. The new constitution will be drafted with the presence of all active political forces in civil society based on their weight in the elections and will then be put to a referendum. Whether this process happens through negotiation or the people’s use of force is the current government’s choice.

PFI’s missions are:

    1. To present a clear picture of what our desired future governing system will be. With the hope that the dissemination of such content will help other groups publish their desired content and shape a public dialogue about the major issues ahead and their solutions.

    1. To provide a platform for independent individuals aligned with PFI’s positions and values to find a strong voice in Iran’s civil arena and create an effective front alongside other like-minded groups against those with different agendas and values.

    1. To contribute to the development of civil resistance aimed at achieving free constitutional elections, to the extent possible and, if feasible, in coordination with other groups opposing the current situation.

    1. To help create conditions for a transition through negotiation and with the least possible cost, if possible. Obviously, participation in coordination with other opposition groups in this regard will make this process more effective.

Strategies

We believe that the current government instrumentally uses Islam to maintain its power. We respect all religious beliefs, including Islam, and believe that we must stand against the current government’s attempt to monopolize and distort Islam to suit its agenda.

We believe that the use of violence and the promotion of hatred by any individual or government hinders the formation of a moral, developed, and human rights-based society, and we oppose it. We believe that instead of fueling an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, we should rely on people’s sense of responsibility and civil resistance.

The most important test for the freedom and democracy aspirations of the opposition is to declare how they will treat minorities in their desired government and how they will protect their fundamental rights. On this basis, we believe that the current government’s managers and supporters should be assured that they will only be dealt with according to the law and justice based on rationality and morality, with the twin goals of providing justice to the oppressed and breaking the cycle of violence.

We believe that Iran’s new social contract is not about designing one part of society against another or without the presence of the other part. The new contract will happen through dialogue between all groups in society.

We believe that the foundations of freedom and democracy are built during the transition period, not after. The process of reaching a new contract will determine how stable and rights-based the new society is. We oppose the discourse that solely promotes the overthrow of this government with blind eyes. Similar historical experiences related to this type of discourse in our region and country have had dark consequences.

The transition period is a pluralistic process. The transition is a place for dialogue, not monologue. The design of the new contract and constitution will be carried out with the presence of all active political forces in civil society, proportional to their weight in the elections.

We believe that our greatest weapon to convince the adherents of the current system to negotiate for the transfer of power and accept democratic demands and respect for people’s fundamental rights is to maintain a rational and moral stance alongside civil resistance. The primary goal of civil resistance will be to demonstrate the cohesion and unity of the opposition, and secondarily to put pressure on the government’s bureaucracy and financial system.

The biggest challenge for opponents of the current government is to convince a large portion of the people to join the civil resistance. Those who think:

    1. The current government is unchangeable.

    1. Joining the civil resistance will harm their work and financial interests, and sometimes their lives.

    1. There is no clear picture of a healthy, desirable, and achievable alternative.

We believe that without clarifying the content of the positions and desired structure of the activists opposing the current government regarding the new governing system and values, decision-making for most people will not be possible. Transparency in positions, presenting a clear picture of the desired society by opposition activists, and taking a stance on transition developments will not only put the groups’ commitment to democratic procedures and values to the test but will also give people confidence to join the civil resistance.

We oppose grounding, pressuring, and harming the Iranian people and economic and civil activists who have no connection with the government’s oppressive system, under any pretext. At the same time, we agree with any pressure on effective decision-making individuals and institutions of the government to stop the suppression of protesters, accept free constitutional elections, and accept the democratic demands of the Iranian people.

PFI’s Governance

Any real Iranian individual can become a member of PFI. Members are committed to promoting the group’s positions and advancing its mission to the best of their abilities.

The group will have a director and a central council. The manifesto, core values, and overarching operational principles will be approved by the central council. The group’s director will be responsible for executive management and must be committed to the central council’s resolutions.

Members who are verified can participate in the group’s annual general assembly and directly elect the members of the central council and the group’s director.

The group has two main activities: 1. Creating a suitable discourse for the transition from an ideological and religious government to a secular democracy where the legitimacy of power and even the majority vote are conditional upon respecting the fundamental rights of every single person in Iran. 2. Research and investigation to find solutions to existing problems and crises.