Iranian-born writer Abnousse Shalmani called on Western countries to send weapons to Iran’s opposition forces during a broadcast on Thursday.

This call for military intervention marks a significant escalation in rhetoric from prominent exiled intellectuals who seek to dismantle the theocratic regime in Iran. By linking the situation to the conflict in Ukraine, Shalmani frames the Iranian opposition's struggle as a global imperative for liberation rather than a purely internal matter.

Speaking on the program *Le Figaro La Nuit* in Paris, Shalmani said, "Il faut envoyer des armes en Iran comme on le fait en Ukraine" [1]. She said that providing arms would assist the Iranian people in their efforts to liberate themselves and support opposition forces against the current regime [1].

Shalmani, who was born in 1977 [1], shared personal accounts of her early life to illustrate the regime's impact. She said she was forced to wear a headscarf at age six, noting that she was told she was a sexual object [2]. These experiences shaped her perspective on the necessity of systemic change in her birth country.

Having fled Iran with her parents at age eight [1], Shalmani has lived in France since 1985 [1]. She described herself as a "pur produit de l'école républicaine" [2], a product of the French republican school system, while maintaining her role as a journalist and writer focusing on Iranian affairs.

Her appeal emphasizes a shift toward active military support for those opposing the mollahs. She said that the international community's approach to Iran should mirror the strategic support provided to Ukraine to ensure the success of the opposition [1, 2].

“"Il faut envoyer des armes en Iran comme on le fait en Ukraine."”

Shalmani's proposal reflects a growing sentiment among some members of the Iranian diaspora that diplomatic pressure and sanctions are insufficient to trigger regime change. By explicitly citing the Ukraine model, she is advocating for a transition from passive support to the active arming of non-state actors, a move that would represent a fundamental shift in Western foreign policy toward Tehran.