Our Dear Nation!

Today, it is no longer a secret to anyone that the Azerbaijani people, the largest national group in Iran, have been facing severe oppression and injustice for many years. The theocratic regime has spent the country's national resources on baseless ideological adventures in order to protect its existence, and has held the lives and property of the people hostage. The only goal of the government has been to prolong its existence.

Over the past half century, the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially in Azerbaijan, has brought only oppression, pain and disaster to all the nations living in this country. Today, in Iran, where more than half of its population is made up of Azerbaijanis and other Turkic communities, thousands of our people are forced to live in physical, moral and psychological suffering as a result of the regime's terror-based policy, and the most fundamental rights of our people are systematically violated.

In the last two weeks, within the framework of the Iranan-Israeli conflict, we have once again witnessed before the eyes of the whole world how this regime forces nations to live under difficult conditions. The tragic situation created by this war clearly reveals the abyss into which the Iranian regime has dragged the region.

Unfortunately, at such a historical and sensitive moment, some radical Kurdish groups are once again making groundless claims to Azerbaijani lands and calling for the occupation of our lands. At a stage when favorable conditions have been created for the joint struggle of nations, these attempts are neither a coincidence nor a simple local conflict. These activities are directly aimed at disrupting the unity of nations and serve no purpose other than prolonging the life of the Iranian regime.

The silence of the central government in the face of these terrorist groups' calls for the occupation and invasion of Azerbaijani lands is extremely significant.

In such a situation, the Azerbaijani people have no choice but to organize their own defense.

We have no doubt that the Azerbaijani people are capable of defending themselves and, by mobilizing all their resources, will not allow terrorist groups to take shelter in Azerbaijani lands. We are confident that on this path, neighboring states and peoples who support peace and stability, as well as the progressive forces of the world, will be with us.

At this sensitive and historical moment, we, as South Azerbaijani organizations, have come together to determine our own destiny in our own lands, and as always, we will continue to be guided by the principle of all peoples living in peace and solidarity in this geography, and we will be the guarantors of the rights, freedoms and security of all segments of society, regardless of race, language, religion, sect, etc., and for this very purpose, we have established the Cooperation Council of South Azerbaijani Organizations (CSO), and we call on our people:

• Let us strengthen our national unity!

• Let us protect our homeland, our lands, and our national identity together!

• Let us be vigilant and prepared against the dangers ahead!

THE FUTURE IS OURS!