In an urgent plea from within Iran, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has issued a powerful call for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Known globally for her unwavering human rights advocacy despite facing numerous arrests and prison sentences by the Iranian regime, Mohammadi is now leveraging her platform to highlight the devastating human cost of the rapidly expanding hostilities.
A Dire Situation on the Ground
According to Mohammadi’s exclusive message conveyed to TIME from Iran, the conflict, which commenced in the early morning of June 13, has intensified with alarming speed. Within just six days, the destruction wrought is reportedly comparable to that seen in conflicts spanning months.
The consequences for the Iranian populace are severe. Mohammadi states that millions of citizens have been forced to abandon their homes, seeking refuge in other cities across the country. This mass displacement exacerbates existing struggles stemming from crushing economic hardship and soaring inflation, making basic necessities increasingly unaffordable for ordinary people.
She also details significant damage to Iran’s critical national infrastructure and expresses profound alarm over the rising number of casualties. A particularly terrifying concern noted is the growing fear among residents that Israel may target Iran’s nuclear facilities, adding immense uncertainty and dread to an already volatile situation. The very real threat of evacuation orders for the capital, Tehran – a city home to approximately 9.5 million people – underscores the gravity of the crisis, with reports indicating bumper-to-bumper traffic as residents flee the city and long lines at gas stations. Eyewitness accounts from Tehran describe hearing strong explosions and anti-aircraft fire, closed markets including the historic Grand Bazaar, and a pervasive sense of being trapped in a war zone.
A Global Call to Action
Drawing on her moral authority as a Nobel laureate, Mohammadi specifically addresses her fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureates, human rights organizations, and “people of the world peace lovers.” She implores them to mobilize their “individual, collective, and institutional capacities” to amplify the critical message of “No to War.”
Mohammadi calls for a united, global front dedicated to advocating for the right to peace. She warns starkly that the conflict’s scope is expanding daily and that its “fire will not remain confined to the lands directly involved—it will cross borders and engulf the entire world,” casting a dark shadow over humanity’s future.
Activism Despite Personal Cost
Mohammadi’s stand against the war is consistent with her decades-long fight for human rights and against the Iranian regime’s policies. Despite the inherent risks posed by speaking out – risks she reportedly acknowledged to the BBC, stating she was “not worried” about returning to prison – she remains steadfast. Her activism has repeatedly led to her incarceration, including when she was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2023, although her specific status at the time of this recent message appears to be that she was in Iran and had reportedly left Tehran.
Her voice joins that of other prominent Iranian opposition figures, such as fellow Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, who have jointly demanded a halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment program and an end to attacks. A joint statement signed by Mohammadi, Ebadi, and others called not only for a ceasefire but also for the current “authoritarian regime” in Iran to step down, arguing that the existing leadership is incapable of resolving the nation’s crises and that a peaceful transition to democracy is the only viable path forward. This stance, however, highlights divisions within the Iranian opposition regarding the timing and messaging around regime change amidst external conflict.
The current conflict follows Israeli attacks aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities, which reportedly resulted in hundreds of deaths in Iran. Iran has responded by firing missiles into Israel, causing casualties.
In her concluding remarks, Narges Mohammadi reiterates her urgent demand for an immediate halt to the fighting and the declaration of a ceasefire. Her powerful message underscores the severe humanitarian catastrophe, economic devastation, and the immense risk of wider escalation posed by the conflict, emphasizing the critical need for immediate international intervention and a united global response to prioritize peace.
